[D8, MM] A stroll and a game (expecting)

[Agasha Yuna]

In the time before court, Yuna had arranged to meet with Shiba-san in the market. A chance to be together. To walk and talk. And there were places they could get food and sit down and play Go.

She brought her Go set (visible) and his letter (not visible for it was tucked in an inner pocket of her kimono, close to her heart.)

She was wearing one of her very favorite kimonos. Green and gold. Cut in a style she particularly liked:
https://ibb.co/KmfQZhB

She arrived and looked around for him. Their first chance to talk since they had become engaged!

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei might have not had the wings of his Clan's namesake- or even of his cherished sandpipers- but he certainly felt like he was flying.

He wore one of his more usual kimono- not the finery he wore to court, but the well-made but unspectacular sort of thing he wore on patrol- a burnt orange kimono of sturdy make- easy to move in, if the need arose, but without embroidery beyond the House Shigi insignia over his heart, the Shiba mon opposite it, and the Phoenix mon on the back, all in red.

He also bore his go set, and Yuna's letter (with its achingly beautiful poem), and very nearly spontaneously combusted when he saw her.

She has gotten MORE radiant since.

Every Fortune, every Ancestor in Yomi, I thank you, I thank you, I thank you.

His words were proper. His tone... perhaps a little familiar and cheerful, but nothing too untoward.

And his expression was one of patent delight.

"Agasha-sama, good morning! Have you been blessed by Inari-no-Kami today?"

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled brightly when she caught sight of him. There he was! Her husband-to-be. Her friend. Her joy. Her - dare she think something so intimate? - her Ryusei.

And he had his Go set too!

She bowed deeply to him.

"Shiba-san, it is so very good to see you." It was true. He brightened her day and lifted her heart.

"I have not had a chance to eat yet. Perhaps, as we wander the market, we can look for something tasty."

"There was a slight adventure this morning at Dragon House. Nothing serious. I think my friend Mirumoto Jinkan-san occasionally sleep walks. But he is well. No harm done." Except to the wall, and they'd get that fixed. And that was just beyond the bounds of courtesy to mention out loud in public.

She paused and looked at him. A very affectionate look. "I wonder, when it is just the two of us, if you would like to call me Yuna?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"I hope Mirumoto-san is well.... my own morning was less.... picturesque, although an audience with my Clan Champion is hardly commonplace. Just the usual business, though- you know how it is, better than many. Sorry. I'm rambling."

He took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and smiled.

"I can think of no better way to spend the morning, Yuna. Please call me Ryusei whenever you want to."

A brief pause.

"You always look beautiful, but today, I must say, you...."

He exhaled.

"I can't believe we'll get to share the rest of our lives. It still feels like a dream."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at him.

"I know. I feel that way too, Ryusei." Oh! She had said his name out loud! And it felt so right. Her heart was hammering like a drum.

"I am so glad every day when I wake up, it's real. You are real. It's happening!"

"I need to send a letter to my parents. Perhaps we could look for a stationery shop. I've sent the world's longest letter to a friend and patron. She'll want a next update. She likes to hear what everyone is wearing. And I am finding daily interest in letter writing."

To him.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Fortunes, tell me about it"

He laughed.

"I need different letters for different eyes... one for Mom is gonna be different than one for my father, and my sensei, and.... we need to start thinking about guest lists! And I need... well. I've discovered the joy of the right letter at the right time, and I need to keep up my share..."

When we live together, I am just going to stash poems around the place for her to find.

And of course... his father would be getting a letter of a very different tenor. Lines had to be drawn.

"Mind you... if we find nothing else on this stroll, it has still made the entire day worthwhile."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled. He felt the same way she did. He still did. They were both gloriously giddy.

"I think the weddings happen in the spring. There is a little time to plan. I would expect since I am marrying into your family that I will come to your home for the wedding. But yes, bringing some guests." Her dowry. Her trousseau. The shell-matching box. Her family and dearest friends. Their procession to his home. The Ageki wealth on display to signify the honor of the marriage, and the bounty of the trade alliance sealed by it.

She managed to recall the location of a stationery shop where they could browse for paper.

She chose a selection of fine papers in several colors.

"I am also going to start looking for orange kimono silk. I'm sure thread-of-gold embroidery will look just as fine against orange as green."

"But also ..." She turned to him. Making sure he heard her clearly. "I promise that I can live simply as a monk if that is what we need to do starting out. To save resources. There is beauty in simplicity. My only ambition will be to make you happy and see your house prosper."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei- whose own clan seemed to be supplying paper to half of Rokugan- still found a few choice selections to broaden his options.

Especially now that he had someone to be, well. Playful with.

"I do look forward to seeing you in orange, but I think you could pull off just about anything- you should keep some green, as well. Anyone who takes issue with it can talk to me, and that'll be a very short conversation. Bring anything you can of your home to our home."

It was time to talk about something... disagreeable, but only briefly.

"We might need to pinch a zeni or two, especially starting out, but... there is also something to be said for the Lady of the House being able to receive guests in appropriate fashion. And besides..."

He turned to face her more directly.

"Do not think of it as my house to see prosper. It is our house."

You know it's love when you want to give joy and damn the consequences.

"It'll be a lot of work. But I've seen you in action, Yuna. Work isn't a problem. And whatever happens... Two can brave what one cannot."

[Agasha Yuna]

"Mmm... I like the idea of mixing orange and green. Perhaps the green silks could be cut into flower petals shapes and woven into all the floral embroidery." That sounded pretty. Striking. Fashionable. She'd suggest it to Kaiya-sama and see what she thought.

"Our house. Ah, I am excited to see it."

Our house! Our house!

"I think what is important is that we will make decisions together. Budgets may seem dull, but it is the poetry of values in action. What we value. What we prioritize. How we save, invest, and build."

"Oh and ... speaking of joint decision making ... there is a rather important decision to be made here at winter court. “Winds blow, nations change..." Just the beginning of the Tao quote. They were in too public a space to speak about the matter of the winds. But she did want to make sure they were in step.

"I want to be kind to the kind. That's probably the most important thing to me. But how visibly, formally ... I there is risk in it. And there is complexity. Maybe we can talk more. When we are not in the market."

[Shiba Ryusei]

He nodded, and grinned.

"I think if anyone knows poetry, it's you, so I look forward to the verses we'll compose when the time comes..."

And then she brought up the Winds. Keihime having not yet displayed the depths of her petty spite, Ryusei remained largely uncommitted on the matter of the Winds, but he was prepared to be persuaded.

"Only my duty takes precedence over any request you make on my time during Court, Yuna."

Her name! I get to use her name!

"That especially applies to important subjects. Particularly those where I still haven't figured out the variables."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded. "There is lots to consider. But... I appreciate your offer of support. I will do nothing to put our future at risk lightly."

"I think there is a risk of making powerful enemies."

"But I also think ... ultimately ... I want to do what is right. And pray we can go home to your ... to our house. And live a quiet life away from events like this winter court. Building something beautiful. A life. A legacy. A family. More beach. Less sharks."

"If ... if there are things important to the Phoenix that I don't know, help me understand. The last thing I would ever want to do is to upset your ... soon to be our ... champion."

[Shiba Ryusei]

He nodded.

"Shiba-ue had reservations about permitting the match, because she could see the... intensity of my... attachment."

He blushed briefly.

"So I have to be most careful about the priorities I display. When Court is over... well. Our beaches are quite lovely, especially in the summer. I enjoyed playing on them as a child."

Our children playing in the sand.

"As far as your concern about our priorities... Shiba-ue is intent that the law be scrupulously adhered to. Beyond that... your study with the Loremasters has given you the big picture."

He snapped his figner ssuddenly.

"Picture! I meant to... maybe another time. My sister's painting..."

[Agasha Yuna]

"I understand. It's like when we spoke to Otomo Mariko-sama. This is still our chance to prove we will be good for each other despite our attraction to each other. You will not upset me by being scrupulously professional and appropriate. And ... steadfast. That my influence is only a good one."

By now, she had found a silk shop. "Oh! Let's go look at the kimono silk!"

She smiled at the reference to his sister's painting. "I do want to see the painting! Maybe tomorrow I can come by Phoenix House, if you'd like."

She began looking through the silks. Looking. Looking. Then her eyes lit up. "Oh! Come look at this one."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"You will always be welcome anywhere I live. I'll try to keep some time clear in tomorrow's, so you can see Mei-chan's painting. And know that being professional and appropriate is... a chore. You make me want to dance."

He grinned at her enthusiasm, and followed along.

"What have we here? "

[Agasha Yuna]

She lifted up a green fabric with maple leaves climbing up its length, with an orange trim, and orange leaves among the maple leaves.

"Isn't this gorgeous? Green and orange."

"Maple leaf is simplicity, serenity, and gracefulness. And the maple tree is enduring wisdom."

https://ibb.co/FXsNdhr

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Oh that is lovely..."

He was looking at her face, her excitement, her pleasure in sharing it with him.

And then the fabric.

"... and apt. I can't wait for you to met Mother, she has a little bonsai maple she's been tending since she was six."

[Agasha Yuna]

"She does? Oh, how fortuitous! I'll have something made with this. Perhaps wear it the first time we meet."

"Ah, I'm a little nervous about that."

"Can you tell me more about your parents? Their home will be my home, our home. I want to be sure I have wonderful gifts planned for them each. Something that will delight them. And understand who they are, so I can plan to be a good daughter to them."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Ah, that, well... Mother is going to love you. She maintains our modest library, and she's the one who taught me to play go."

And Yuna made Ryusei happy, which would make her damned near a minor fortune in the eyes of Shiba Kirahime.

"She was born an Ikoma, so she will also know far more than I will about how to help you adjust to your new home. And she takes hospitality seriously. If you want a suggestion, she loves little figurines- netsuke and the like. Whimsical ones."

And nothing for it.

"Father is... frankly a deeply unpleasant man sometimes. He has given in to despair about the state of the house, and scorns any options presented that conflict with our long history of not changing and watching ourselves wither. He drinks too much, and he lacks tact. My advice with him? Pick something out that troubles you the least. Perhaps a scroll that Mother can put in the library for the rest of us to enjoy after he's accepted it."

He gave a wry grin.

"On his good days, he's a sucker for a pretty face, so you'll be able to handle him just fine.And he keeps to himself much of the time."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at the description of his mother.

"Oh, she sounds lovely. Yes, I think we'll get along well. And we can look at whimsical netsuke next. I will every time I'm in a market. If we end up with a dozen, it will be a fine stash for celebrations to come, and the very most darling one can be the first gift."

A more solemn nod at the description of his father.

"I understand. Ah, sometimes I think you and I are puzzle pieces made to fit together. My father is warm and loving and laughing and kind. A good teacher. Every good memory I have is of him or my uncle, his brother."

A pause. "My mother took my being born without shugenja ability very hard. Very personally. I am told she doted on me in the years I was too young to remember." Her precise memory was a skill she'd developed. It did not extend to birth. "And then the testing began. And she got more frantic and more brittle and more sad. And then everyone just agreed it was best that she couldn't see me, couldn't be reminded of me. Thank goodness my brother was finally born and was the child she wanted. But then, I was a threat to him. What if I was a pathetically weak late bloomer, but any sign of kami sensitivity in me would have made the succession far messier. I'd prayed so long to be able, to make her happy. Then I prayed to be invisible. Then I prayed to stay small, so he could be big."

"But Uncle Toma understood and rescued me from all that. His patron is Miya Kaiya-sama. Miya Hachi-sama's wife. He got her interested in me, invested in me. I owe the three of them my education, my chance to train as a courtier, my chance to learn Phoenix ways. The chance to suddenly thrive at skills I did have. There are no courtier schools in Dragon lands. It was such a gift. I was so happy at school. I did not think it was possible to be happier. Until I met you."

[Shiba Ryusei]

She really IS like the half of me I didn't realize was missing...

"Well. We will simply have to make sure our own children have a more balanced upbringing than either of us did, hm?"

Maybe it was because their match wasn't purely political, but it struck Ryusei that something no one on Rokugan admitted about loving marriages was... a child whose parents loved each other was far more likely to be loved by both.

"And while of course, any of your family will be welcome any time, I should look into ways House Shigi can show its appreciation to your uncle... and to Miya-sama and Miya-sama. After all, their guidance led to our meeting, and that means I owe them a great deal."

I came to Court prepared to marry... whoever.

Thank every single Fortune Yuna and I found each other.