[D9, ME] Happy Returns

[Doji Noriko]

The cool of evening found Doji Noriko presenting herself at Lion House and inquiring after Ikoma Honoka--just to catch up.

The servant at the front seemed...unsure.

[Ikoma Honoka]

Honoka made her way out after being informed, and there was a warm smile as she arrived.

"Doji-sama, good evening! I hope you are well? Please come in, I can prepare some tea" she gave the servants a nod and let them know to bring some tea to the main hosting room before leading Noriko through out of the room. Quickly grabbing an extra cushion so that they would both have one.

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko follows along easily.

"Thank you, Ikoma-san, and good evening. I am pleased to see that you are well! I only wish that I had been able to come to see you sooner. This court has been a whirlwind."

[Ikoma Honoka]

Honoka made sure the nicer looking cushion was where Noriko would sit, and once the tea arrived she began sorting that.

"It has certainly been a very busy court session, both in the courtroom and outside it. I didn't expect my first winter court to include a voyage outside the court to bring a previously unknown Wind to Winter Court. Still, it's an experience I am relishing! What about Doji-sama? I also hope that Ichiro-san and Jiro-san are doing well."

[Doji Noriko]

"Court has had its hardships, and I fear that people...I mean, not *all* people, but some, have stopped hearing what I am saying and started hearing what they think I would have said, were I the person they think I am. It is occasionally very disorienting. But on the whole I am very pleased with the people that I have met here. And the children are well, though Ichiro, I think, would like to get out and play more."

[Ikoma Honoka]

There was a small concerned look about that.

"If Doji-sama wishes to talk about it I'm happy to listen. While I can't say I have experienced what you have, I can see that everything that has happened in the court has got many on edge. Not just trade deals but the court in general, so much tension. I even came across Otomo Gorobei-sama who seemed to be...let's say concerned with the arrival of Tatsuya-san."

There was a pause as she finished pouring some tea, moving the cup over slightly in front of Noriko.

"Perhaps Ichiro-san and Jiro-san would benefit from visiting the Ikoma dojos? There are many children around their ages there too, I'm sure something could be arranged."

[Doji Noriko]

"If it could be done without causing too much disruption, I think that would be very nice for them," she said as she accepted the tea. "But it is unfortunate to hear about Lord Gorobei. It seems a poor way to begin to seek conflict, but then perhaps Tomaru and I are the foolish ones for believing this can be settled by agreement."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"I'm certain that can be arranged" Honoka said with a smile and a nod "I imagine it will need approval with the Seppun, but I'm confident that no sensei in the dojos nor Ikoma-dono will have a problem."

There was a small pause as she sipped her own tea, before she continued.

"As for Otomo Gorobei-sama, I understand how he feels even if I don't know the man well. Back before my gempukku, there was a boy three years my elder who had been held back a year in gempukku, and he felt threatened by a young girl who had been moved two years ahead. He challenged me countless times! Lost every time of course, which I'm sure hurt him further, but when you feel someone is encroaching on your strengths in something very important it's easy to feel threatened. Tatsuya-san is a talented swordsman, as is Otomo-sama. I encouraged him to converse with the man though, not fight him. I believe both would get along quite well."

There was a smile.

"You and Seppun-sama are not alone in your hope and belief. Many of us wish that it can be settled with agreements, and I'm confident it can be. It is the others that may not wish this however which concern me."

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko nodded along. "And me. Have we identified these agitators? If we know, we can work to ease their concerns, or at least make them less contagious."

[Ikoma Honoka]

There was a small shake of the head.

"Unfortunately not, they operate very secretly it seems. However I have no doubt that they link towards Otomo Keihime-sama. I just haven't worked out who stands to gain most from this. It may be easier to try and locate the elements being targets to find the agitators though."

There was a pause, then a lowering of head.

"Forgive me if I spoke out of turn. I tend to be an overthinker."

[Doji Noriko]

"It is no shame to think about a difficult situation, Ikoma-san. In fact, I think it best that you do give it some consideration. Keihime is less subtle than she likes to think, but it is certainly possible that there are others who will benefit in ways large or small, Imperial or local, from a fractured Empire and a weak center. They may not even be working in concert, but short-sighted plots and acts of avarice can pile up and sweep away the good intentions of a people."

She smiled. "So keep thinking, and if I can help you, I will."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Hai you're right Doji-sama" Honoka nodded "I noted that Otomo Tooru-sama had looked to step forward also during this afternoons court session in support of Keihime's attempts. I'm unsure if this means Otomo Tooru-sama also needs have a wary watch also, but beyond his involvement in this bank idea Yasuki-sama suggested and his...involvement in the incident yesterday in court towards Seppun Tomaru-sama."

Honoka looked at her tea thoughtfully.

"I'm yet to meet Seppun Tomaru-sama, but I get the suspicion he is considered a threat by some."

[Doji Noriko]

Noriko nodded.

"By some. But to others, he is a figure to follow. I suppose the same could be said of me, or of Tatsuya, or even of Keihime. I have great affection for Seppun Tomaru, though I think his ideas a touch too radical for our society to bear. And were it anyone else articulating them, I believe they would be understood as such. But he is a kind and good man, and a charismatic one, and that counts for a great deal."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"May I enquire as to what ideas, Doji-sama? He sounds like an honourable man, however I'm curious what could be considered radical for a man that has served for as long as he has in the position as he has. If you are able to say such a thing of course" Honoka asked, curious.

[Doji Noriko]

"He believes that education should be standardized and extended across the whole Empire, regardless of class, clan, or station. He will begin with reading, so that is what he usually articulates, but the rest will follow."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Oh."

Honoka looked surprised initially, then more thoughtful.

"I can see why people would think this is radical, it would be a significant shakeup of how the Empire has ran. To hear that the idea comes from one in the position he is in also...what does Doji-sama think of his ideas?"

[Doji Noriko]

"I think that Seppun Tomaru's ideas may help to destabilize our society in uncomfortable ways. It certainly would be culturally homogenizing, and I would miss the way our culture flourishes as the different clans intermingle and share ideas and, yes, disagree. I think that it would be particularly bad for the Crab and Scorpion clans, whose culture is different from the mainstream for important reasons. And I have some concerns about what it would do to the other classes. I think Seppun Tomaru imagines that an educated peasantry will become happier and more productive, but I cannot imagine that they will, on the whole, wish to remain peasants if they have the same skills and knowledge as townsfolk or the same education as samurai. Who grows the rice, then? Do the samurai enforce heimin remaining in the place the Celestial Order, and the sustenance of the Empire, requires? What happens if the peasants who go to town do not return to their fields?"

She sighs. "It is difficult to accept, because something absolutely should be done to improve the lot of heimin and townsfolk. There are samurai who do hoard too much wealth. But I think Seppun Tomaru's ambition is a recipe for a great deal of conflict. Conflict, I should add, that I am not sure that our society can survive. There are, after all, a great deal more peasants than there are of us."

[Ikoma Honoka]

Thank the kami she doesn't support the ideas...

Honoka nodded.

"I'm pleased that Doji-samas views echo my own. While I'm supportive of the notion of helping those in lower positions in life, there is a delicate balance that could easily be tipped too far with too many changes. Any form of change needs to be small, and gradual, to ensure chaos does not become the norm. Even reading has as many problems as benefits. I feel that the lower classes can be helped without risking that."

[Doji Noriko]

"Reforms that do not risk the Celestial Order can and should be pursued, I believe, but it is clear to me, though apparently not to all, that Seppun Tomaru's ideas will eventually do precisely that."

She smiled a little sadly. "But perhaps Lady Sun will talk some sense into him, neh?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"If only things were so simple" Honoka replied as she looked down at her tea "I have no doubt that Seppun-sama is a wise man, and his views have been shaped by things he has seen in his life. One in his position though can influence others very easily, and while I'm confident he may not mean any harm in his views those he inspires inadvertently could cause more damage than they help."

A small sigh escaped.

"I had wanted to wait and learn more of the different contenders to the throne, to understand them better. Yet the more I learn of them, other than yourself and Tatsuya-san, the more I'm concerned."