Lion in the Cranes Den [D3 EE] (expecting)

[Doji Hikaru]

Even with an increase of guards, Hikaru had left a very specific invitation open, and one without stipulation. Even if he might get in trouble later, welcoming an Ikoma with open arms was something we hoped would be a sign of trust.

He is waiting to escort Honoka when she arrives, a sitting room with a small brazier going for tea.

[Ikoma Honoka]

It had felt like a long day, so an invite to tea was very welcome. Especially from a friend! She made sure not to be late, and was surprised to see so much extra security.

Once she spotted hikaru though, she smiled and bowed to the man, closing her umbrella once she was allowed inside. "Good evening Doji-san! Thank you for the invite, I hope you are well? The weather is certainly changing ne?"

[Doji Hikaru]

"I was a little shaken up this morning" Hikaru remarks drily. "But I seem to have recovered. It is nice to take a break with a friend in these eventful times."

Hikaru begins the practiced ritual of the tea ceremony and hands Honoka a cup. "Have you faced that monk yet? I am bolstering myself before taking the chance."

____
D3 EE Tea Ceremony with Honoka | 5k4 ⇒ 25 (TN: 15)

Both recover 1 VP

[Ikoma Honoka]

"I'm glad to hear you're ok. The buildings too, Lion efficiency and handiwork for something we built for this court season."

Honoka took her spot, sitting down with a smile. Although she fell into silence and observed the ceremony, doing her part also when the bowl was passed and then passed it back.

"Thank you" she offered politely, before adding "and I have heard he's been...disruptive in a way only a monk can be. I was intending to go see what was happening after this, couldn't put off visiting a friend for tea first ne? I'm curious what the monk is doing though, something big must be happening either now or in the future, and I don't mean the land shaking. At least I hope not."

[Doji Hikaru]

"I mean, certain jokes spring to mind with the shaking, but I am not sure that they are suitable for such a refined lady as yourself." Hikaru smiles over the rim of his cup before taking a sip. "Do you have any idea as to what this is about?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

Honoka covered up a laugh.

"Doji-san! I am far too honourable to think such things" she replied with a small grin "some say the earthquake is a bad omen, but I'm not one to divine the future so I cannot say. To have a monk suddenly causing so much attention though right after an earthquake at the court hosted by the divine Empress? One cannot help but think these are all linked together somehow, it's too much of a coincidence otherwise. I'll have to see what the monk says."

[Doji Hikaru]

"Not too dishonorable to have amused you" Hikaru ribs but his expression grows more serious. "It does seem a change is at hand. Speaking of things we Shall Not Be Spoken, the portents are there" he pauses "The last generation has not been kind to the Crane, even if it was consequences of our own making. My only hope is that it does not repeat"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Much might indeed be changing. So many things happening during Winter Court, while we also await to hear the direction of the Empire? All this discussion on the winds?"

Honoka grinned more.

"What better time to create a name to be remembered forever Doji-san. This is where legends can grow and one can find their name honoured in the Ikoma libraries. Don't you think so? I understand being more reserved, but worrying about the past is one way to never escape it."

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru pauses. "You're right Honoka. I have been worried a bit about my place. About decorum. But refusing to make a mistake is not a success. What I would apply to our duels I should to the other aspects of the Court. Maybe not the best, but for a moment to be remembered. My, what a chance that would be"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"There he is. Kami, I started to worry that being here had taken some spark" Honoka chuckled as she picked up her tea "maybe it's to my detriment as a delegate to light the fire in another but truthfully I want to see how far your story goes too. After all it would make my story shine even more if yours was also memorable, ne?"

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru pauses and chuckles. "You really are something Honoka-san. And perhaps it is to my detriment to keep providing you a contrast for you to shine so bright but how can I not strive to stand next to you? There is a Doji tradition kept within the Kakita Dojo, to tie the belief that the tension of your hand on your hilt and the words upon your lips are one and the same. How can I deny the artistry to hold to both? How could I not want to see it...and reach for that star to be within my grasp?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"You know Doji-san that comes across very close to a marriage proposal" Honoka grinned "and even using my name! Has Hikaru-san become so mesmerized by my story that he wishes to be a permanent fixture?"

There was a pause as she sipped her tea before adding "I understand though. One should always push for perfection, and inspiration helps to push one to reach that level. It is a blessing of having access to the greatest resource for inspirational tales close to ones fingertips to help inspire one to want to reach those heights."

[Doji Hikaru]

There is a real (if slight) kami-blessed blush of all things that crosses Hikaru's face at that. "You're using mine too Honoka-san." It's not the strongest counter. "Would that be a so bad?" A best "The legends in stories are only as great as the challenges they match so wouldn't you benefit from a foil?"

He sips his tea to hide his lapse

"That's another part of the philosophy I was taught. I was asked: "Can there ever be a perfect poem? "

"The sensei let us think on it overnight. For those who said "yes" he then asked that if once that perfect poem was written what was the point in anyone ever writing another. For those who said "no" he asked them if the every poem is doomed to failure. "

"He then went through his kata. It was perfect to our eyes, but he spoke of every error he could tell about his own steps. The beauty, he told us, was not in the end result. It was the process that leads to results that is beauty, and an eternal striving that it is always to your next best"

[Ikoma Honoka]

There was a bigger grin at that.

"I can't deny that having a spouse that could challenge me would be idea. Alas, my uncle believes I have many years before then. I'm only of the age most people finish gempukku after all!"

There was a pause as she considered the lesson on that.

"Your sensei is wise, but we are usually always our own worst critics. What one thinks is perfection another may not think is good enough. The process though, the journey...that is one to consider. Hmm....maybe there is truth in that, but that would make the end product not worth reaching so maybe it's both."

[Doji Hikaru]

"I am sure that Honoka-san will make a fine wife one day." Hikaru nods, keeping the word neutral. "Hopefully to one who realizes how exceptional she is"

Hikaru looks around the room. "If they are concerned, will they take issue with you meeting a man of marrying age, unaccompanied at his place of rest? I certainly would not want you in any trouble, but I am certainly enjoying our time together at tea. Until we meet back at the dojo again, of course."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Oh my uncle won't be concerned, he knows my skill and so do you" Honoka said with a nod "and I have no reason to be concerned. Maybe it's Hikaru-san that could be concerned about being here with me. But more seriously, one cannot bring a minder around with them all the time, ne? We're not children anymore after all."

[Doji Hikaru]

"Why would I be concerned at being alone with you Honoka-san?" Hikaru offers a small smile. "I'm not privy to all of the details, but I hear that our two Clans have been working toward peaceful settlement."

Hikaru glances his...counterpart over. "If anything rumors would make be a harder to acquire commodity. Unless you're worried that others will think you're too hard to compete against."

He pauses "You are definitely not a child anymore. Even if we just barely aren't "

[Ikoma Honoka]

"I heard about the working towards better relations, which is a wonderful thing to hear for both of our clans" Honoka nodded with a smile "I would imagine it will be placed before the court soon enough, and going by how todays court dealings were it will need to be spoken up about to ensure it goes through. As for anyone competing with me?"

She picked up her cup again, and looked at him over it.

"Nah, I'd win. If it was something I needed to compete for it wouldn't be a competition, it'd be a formality. I competed in Kemari despite never doing so and won. I may even entering the bowman's wager, Suzume-sama made the suggestion of 'the smiling bow' and it feels like another fitting title don't you think?"

[Doji Hikaru]

"Honoka-san" Hikaru replies slowly and drily "Are you saying that if you were to ever compete for my affections you'd win, but it's really just a formality"

He grins over his cup "If what I said before sounded like a proposal, this sounds a great deal like you accepting it"

[Ikoma Honoka]

There was a pause at that. She went to speak, paused, then took a deep sip of tea her. There might even had been the sign of a slight blush, but surely not!

"All I'm saying is if there was a competition, I would win Hikaru-san" she finally said "Hikaru-san should also have the belief he can win any competition, ne?"