Once again into the Fray, where we must beat the odds for the good of House and Clan.

Daichi wasn't really sure if it was right to think of marriage talks as a battlefield but here, they were. He'd met with the Imperial matchmake several times already and with any luck this may very well be the last. Arriving at the Golden Mane he waved down one of the servants to take him to the room he had reserved for this talk earlier in the day.

The Otomo might be there and drinking already or she might not. It was hard to tell with her.

She is not, but Mariko soon arrives.

"Hiruma-san," she says, bowing. "What a pleasure to receive your invitation again!"

"It's my pleasure." He offered with a bow. "Please have a seat."

"I'm sorry my note found you so late this morning, I intended to send it yesterday, but you know how time can fly by here at court." The young crab finished with a wry smile making it's way onto his lips.

"Oh, I certainly do!"

Mariko takes her seat.

"And it's such a pleasure to see you smile, Hiruma-san!"

"Despite all rumors otherwise Crab Gunso's do smile from time to time." Daichi replied the same wry smilevstill on his lips.

"Have you been well since last we spoke?"

"Very much so," Mariko says, "and Hiruma-san seems to be doing well, too, moving into the finals of the Wager."

She nods.

"Commendable work. Shame about that poor horse, though."

Here, she shakes her head.

"Truly." He agreed with a nod. "Such an accident gives me mixed feelings about moving on, but being able to control a horse no matter how unruly it may be is part of the challenge."

"Still thank you for the praise." He added dipping his head in gratitude.

"Have you thought about the challenges tomorrow?" Mariko asks. "I am told that, after a small preliminary, you will take turns issuing challenges to one another, daring each other to greater heights of performance."

"Not a bit." He admitted with a slow shake of his head. "I am a bit surprised I made it as far as I have honestly. I suppose I'll have to give it some thought though, especially if it requires naming impressive feats of archery." Though he also wasn't certain he'd preform amazingly well there.

"You don't happen to have any suggestions do you Otomo-sama?"

"Last year," Mariko says, "Shanan was beaten rather suddenly. The initial challenge, and the last one, was to shoot the arrow furthest. A simple thing, really, but it only took the single arrow from him to secure his defeat."

She shakes her head.

"A sadness, truly, especially given what happened after."

The longest arrow, he might very well lose that one. Though his skills did seem.in a lot of ways similar to Gorobei so it was hard to say.

"What happened after?" He asked as an eyebrow rose. Was there yet more stories like that which happened today?

"Oh, such misfortune," Mariko says. "The poor ronin fell and broke his leg trying to leave the contest grounds. Terrible compound fracture. And it's not like a fighting person can get a lot of work without being able to stand to it."

"That is rather terrible." The said with a small shake of his head. Two broken legs in two years? It almost felt like thier was some angry spirit with a penchant for leg breaking haunting the contest.

He'd have to be extra careful to watch his step and carry his jade. "Hopefully he managed to make it through the winter and spring to be able to work by summer."

"Oh, no," Mariko says. "Fortunately, the Lady Moshi is generous, since he was injured as a result of serving her, but he still has trouble walking, I am told."

"That's unfortunate, though it is good to hearof the generosity of Lady Moshi." The servants arrived with the meal and a pair of Sake bottle.

"Should we move onto business as we talk?"

"Of course, Hiruma-san," Mariko says as the servants serve and depart.

After giving thanks, she takes up her chopsticks.

"Say on, Hiruma-san."

She eats.

"Well, it's not exactly the best of news." Daichi admitted after he took up his own chopsticks.

"Kaiu-dono was not a fan of the marriage agreement as we arranged it. It seems Yasuki-san and his skills are seen as important for our Clans future. luckily he is willing to negotiate further if it's Important to the Imperials."

"What does the Lord Kaiu have in mind?" Mariko asks.

She eats more.

"The Crab benefit from a strong Empire with a strong leader at its helm. So Lord Kaiu is looking for ways we can support that."

"Though the Imperial legions or perhaps even inspectors on the docks of Otasan Uchi. Though we are also willing to consider other means if Otomo-sama has a mind for something."

"The Crab will be able to offer support for a strong Empire when they swear to the rightful Empress," Mariko says. "But the Legions are under the command of the Emerald Champion in the Imperial absence, and the docks of Otosan Uchi remain, until the Throne determines otherwise, within the purview of the Tortoise.

She takes another bite.

"So I am uncertain what Hiruma-san suggests."