Waxing and Waning (D15 LE)

[Jihen]

He laughs warmly at her comment.

“In private you need not worry of offending a monk with so small a tease. I prefer honesty over ornate formality when it can be afforded. If one cannot talk candidly with a member of the Brotherhood… then we’ve done something terribly wrong to make it seem unworthy to do so.”

He smiles, “I’ll add orchid-smelling to the list… along with socially acceptable inbreeding, blind subservience, and… stud-like dependability.”

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako arches an eyebrow, gives her head a small shake.

[Jihen]

“And a high tolerance for disapproving silence.” He offered with a soft smile.

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako nods gravely.

Then she smiles, just a little.

"I will continue to want your advice, Jihen-san," she says. "I may not always follow it, but it will be good to hear."

[Jihen]

“Of course Seppun-sama… I am not the head of the Seppun. You and you alone are the one who will make the decisions for your responsibilities. It is as I said in court… I am the least of any of those who serve the empire. I do not make the decisions… but I hope you never resent me for making my thoughts known. They are only ever shared with sincerity. My words may not be the ones you expect or are used to… I may be off-putting at times or seem overly philosophical.”

He bows, “But I will strive to make myself as useful as I can. Learn as I go… and implement the things I learn to better serve you and the empire. I am a quick learner I am told… And I hope to continue learning until there is nothing left to learn…”

He smiles, “Which you know when the Little Teacher says that is…”

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako says "I think he got that one wrong, actually. Some who have died still seem to need teaching."

[Jihen]

“That’s what the Wheel is for.” He replies with a smile.

“Though I prefer the instructors here on this realm over those in Gaki-do… I’ll pass on the lake of blood and mountain of blades. The lessons here are more my speed.”

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako laughs.

"I doubt such things await you, Jihen-san," she says. "Unless there's some sordid past behind you?"

She raises an eyebrow, her tone making the jest clear.

[Jihen]

“I hear I was a pretty terrible baby. Had to put me into retirement early so I could work off all that colic crying karma.” He replied with a smile.

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako shakes her head, smiling.

"That is terrible," she says.

She takes another of her breaths.

"I expect we'll be leaving tomorrow," she says. "Are you ready?"

[Jihen]

"It will take me a moment to gather all of my possessions."

He shakes his sleeve which jingles softly with the sound of coins clinking against each other.

"Aaaand... I'm ready." He said with a smile.

He then replies a bit more seriously, "I'll probably spend a bit of time tonight writing letters to our hosts thanking them for their hospitality... but come tomorrow I will be ready to depart. Does the Lady Seppun require any assistance?"

[Seppun Sadako]

"For that," Sadako replies, "I am amply attended. And the Miharu and the Guard generally travel fairly lightly. I expect that they have already made the preparations they need to make."

She sighs.

"Progress will be faster returning than coming, I think."

[Jihen]

"As it should be... It will be good to complete the funeral rites for the Hantei as quickly as possible... Local political want has pushed back which would have been more properly followed back in the capital. To finish that which needs to be done with all expediency will only be a good thing for the empire and those who loved the Empress." He said with a respectful bow of his head at the mention of the Hantei.

[Seppun Sadako]

"It will, indeed," Sadako says, her earlier comments having been swallowed by the vagaries of the internet.

"And it will be good to have a clear sign of who should sit the Throne."

[Jihen]

"What kind of sign would suffice... do you think?" He asks sincerely.

[Seppun Sadako]

"Honestly," Sadako says, "I don't know."

She draws her breath again.

"I have seen a Fortune appear before me," she continues, "and I do not expect the like again. But I think that even so clear a sign would fail to convince many. Too many."

She shakes her head.

"I think it will come to violence. I think it will have to."

[Jihen]

Jihen nods his head solemnly, "It is how it was resolved the last time... Even as the memory of those days continues to slip from the minds of the people."

He sighs slightly, "This realm lies between the others on the Great Wheel... Despite not being filled with boiling oceans of blood and mountains made of blades... this too is a realm of violence and death in part. The way of the Heavens helps pull us closer towards ritualized conflict to help moderate some of the more destructive influences of the other realms that pull on the people of this plane..."

He pauses, "But this realm can become just as much a hell as the worst realms if not checked by the proper forces. Even if armies amass and the realm stands on the brink of blood and destruction... it is always a single man's actions that make the difference. If you live your life with certainty and justice you'll help pull the realm towards the Heavens rather than the hells..."

[Seppun Sadako]

"So may we all hope," Sadako says. "So may we all pray."

[Jihen]

"So may we all be..." He says confidently, adding on to her pleas and not refuting.