It was early evening, and Yuna had just finished checking with the chef to make sure all was on track for the dinner.

The meeting area was ready. The low table and seating. The tea steaming above the sunken hearth. Today's tea was a green tea infused with apple. A fragrant smell with the fruit adding a little sweetness to both the scent and flavor.

Yuna was still dressed in her fine kimono from court.

She had invited Mirumoto Jinkan-san to join her. The basics of the deal were in place. 2 stone for 2 dyes. But tonight was to enjoy a delicious meal and think about marriage options. And he had a certain vested interest.

A servant announces the arrival of Kitsune Aiko, who bows as she enters and shucks her sandals.

There is still the distinct impression she should have a stalk of grass in her mouth.

"Real nice place y'got here," she says, looking about. "Did it up real purty, like.

"But, right, got somethin' f'r you."

She offers a pot with what looks like bonsai in it.

Yuna smiled.

She gestured for her to come in and sit down, and poured her a cup of the green tea infused with apple.

"That is so kind of you. I'm expecting one additional guest from the Dragon. Please make yourself comfortable."

"But, your visit - your presence - is gift enough. I am quite looking forward to getting to know you better." A polite refusal.

The room was decorated with wall hangings featuring beautifully calligraphed quotes from the Tao. One hanging had the kanji for "dragon" and "mountain" taking the shape of a dragon.

The tea set was a beautiful moriage ceramic with gilt images of dragons. (See: https://ibb.co/M2Y1YfJ).

"Even in th' woods, we know you don't show up t' someone's place empty-handed," Aiko replies. "An' this's a far sight fancier'n the woods. So, please, take it."

Yuna smiled, clearly pleased by the compliment to the setting.

"Ah, but you bring also some ideas about marriage candidates, yes? And what better gift that one of your very samurai to marry into our clan. That is the best of all gifts. I could not ask for more."

Another polite refusal.

Still her eyes grazed over the pot with unmistakable and flattering interest.

"Ain't a gift if'n y' ask f'r it," Aiko replies. "An' y' didn't. So take it. I insist.

"It's a cuttin' from one o' the trees in th' Kitsune Mori. My brother done it. Ain't it grand?"

The dance concluded she gladly took it.

"From the Kitsune Mori? Oh, it a piece of your home. And so beautifully shaped. Your brother is quite the artisan. Is he your only sibling?"

"My brother and sister - both younger - are both shugenja."

"My brother is, too," Aiko says. "An' better at it than I am.

"O' course, there's lots I'm better'n him at, too."

She smiled.

"I could say the same of my brother. I am glad I had the chance to train to be a loremaster. A librarian and courtier."

"Are there skills you most enjoy practicing?"

Jinkan arrived in his previous court finery, dressed in layers of forest green with tiny trees dotting the landscape of his figure. His hair was a little messy but he didn't seem to care about fixing it, as he came and bowed to both samurai.

"Mirumoto Jinkan, I am pleased to be invited to die, I mean, dine with you all." He sat down at an empty spot and spead out with the ease of a child.

Aiko looks Jinkan over appraisingly and nods a bow.

"Didn't know it were that kind of soiree," she says. "I'd've worn somethin' diff'rent if'n I knew I's gonna die today. Might've done my hair up purtier."

Yuna signaled the attendant that the company was complete and they soon arrived with the first course - appetizers and a fine plum wine.

The appetizers included a dish of soy glazed tai (snapper), botan ebi (shrimp) and caviar.
https://ibb.co/1J9cfD4

And a plate of scallops arranged artfully over vegetables.
https://ibb.co/s9Vjncv

"I am glad you could join us, Mirumoto-san. This is Kitsune Aiko-sama, representing the Fox clan. She and I spoke briefly earlier about the possibility of trade between our clans. There's a good deal in mind, trading some of our stone (2), for some of their dyes (2). Of course, all depends on securing Togashi-ue's approval, which will likely take a day or two."

"But we thought tonight to enjoy a meal, get to know each other a little better, and talk about potential marriages, so we could get the Imperial Matchmaker's approval secured also before proceeding."

She turned to the Kitsune. "I promise there is no danger here." She said it with a grin. Surely Mirumoto-san intended a joke. "Except possibly the temptation of all these yummy courses. There are five planned, starting with this one."

"I fig'red there weren't any harm meant," Aiko says. "Mirumoto-san here reminds me o' my brother. It's the kinda thing he'd say.

"But food looks lovely. Gonna be hard t' get back used t' home cookin' after bein' here."

"Slip of the tongue, Kitsune-sama. And I think you are ravishing enough tonight. We are lucky to be able to take in your presence tonight." Jinkan said with a grin that made the shadows stretch across his scars.

Aiko grins.

"You're sweet, hon," she says, "but I'm happily married.

"Which I ain't gonna be th' only, if'n I heard right." Here, she looks at Yuna. "So congrats, ain't it?"

She smiled to see them comfortable with each other.

"I shall be! Soon! It makes me very happy. I admire Shiba-san very much. It is definitely something to celebrate today." And she did smile. Genuine. Happy.

"Now ... if only we can make such a fortuitous match for a few more samurai."

"As you came in, we had been talking about our siblings. The skills we - mostly - don't share with them. And the things we enjoy ourselves."

"Beyond my duties, I enjoy reading theological texts, playing Go, and playing shamisen. I'm excited for the Go tournament you proposed and are organizing, Mirumoto-san."

"Ain't had much opportunity f'r developin' such interests," Aiko says. "Been takin' up where my brother leaves off, an' that takes most o' my time, as you might could think."

She nodded.

"Can you tell us about Fox lands? Do you have a favorite place? A favorite sight?"

"Is there anything most important to you, here at winter court?"

"Hold on there, hon," Aiko says. "Y' ain't lettin' Mirumoto-san here get a word in edgewise, an' that just ain't right."

She looks at the Mirumoto. "I know you got somethin' percolatin' up there under that topknot."

"I was mostly thinking about whether or not your brother is anything like my sister. Does he stare at walls without talking for days?" Jinkan asked after a little bit of silence.