A letter to his mother about his planned betrothal (and filled to the brim with singing Yuna's praises while not once mentioning her family's wealth because it was the least noteworthy thing about her to him) , with a sideline about how Court was very interesting, and a brief aside about the earthquake.
A letter to his brother about his planned betrothal into the Scorpion Clan (while hadn't mentioned it to anyone else, he knew Saburo wanted to get away from Shiro Shigi and their father and all of the rest), along with some brotherly teasing about how they'd both be old married men soon.
A letter to his sister describing the various courtly fashions and some brief thoughts on some courtiers from other clans (Noting that he had yet to talk to anyone who didn't strike him favorably on at least some level). And then some more gushing about Yuna, since he hadn't gotten it out of his system (and probably never would).
He was just putting the finishing touches on a much shorter letter to his father (essentially a "I have yet to disgrace our House like you said I would, and by the by, I've found someone who makes me happy, and I sincerely hope you can be happy for me on that score") when it hit.
Ryusei was a pious Phoenix. He venerated the Fortunes and respected the Tao.
But he was no shugenja, nor a Henshin, and this marked his first direct undeniable supernatural personal experience. He wasn't prepared.
He was hurled to the floor by the howling spiritual impact, the blow not as hard as some he had endured, of course, but no love tap either.
As he lay there in stunned shock, he felt something else.
It was like... someone crying. He had never heard Yuna cry- never wanted to, even though he knew he would have to someday- but for some reason, he was reminded of her. Of his prayer before Benten.
For that, I can never offer you enough thanks.
So I have one more thing to ask of you, greedy as it might seem, when you've already given me so much...
Never, ever, ever let me take her for granted.
He felt like now was a time to repay some tiny part of the debt he knew he owed the Fortune.
But it would be... dangerous. His sensei had always had trouble with him on this.
I must not fail.
Ignoring his bruises, Ryusei got into a lotus position, closed his eyes, and tried to center himself.
He sometimes got lost when he walked this path. But not today.
Ryusei communed with the Void, and through the Void, with the spirits that were in such turmoil.
And perhaps fittingly, given the nature of his spiritual gift, and the blessings they had sought, it was Yuna and the Little Teacher who gave him the right words to will into the Void.
The river never begins, the river never ends.
A simple phrase, just part of a longer one, but it was right.
It helped calm the spirits, restore them to their proper flow.
He remembered another line. And he spoke this one aloud, just as he had at the Dojo .
“You cannot conquer the elements. You must learn to dance with their harmony.”
This probably wasn't what his sensei had meant by "Dancing With the Elements," but as Ryusei was rapidly coming to realize, the Tao's wisdom applied at all times.
As he sat on the floor, his hair in disarray, fresh bruises forming on his side, as the raging spirits around him calmed...
Shiba Ryusei had the ghost of a smile on his face.
---
Athletics/Stamina to fall gracefully, TN 20 | 4k3 ⇒ 16 (TN: 20)
Faceplant damage | 2k1 ⇒ 9- Ryusei takes 9 wounds, still in healthy
Does Benten Have my back? Lore: Theology/Awareness, tn 15 | 4k3 ⇒ 23 (TN: 15) Success, no more beatings
Consumed- Any time Ryusei uses Meditation, he must make a Willpower Trait Roll at TN 20 or become lost in reverie as you seek a deeper understanding of this skill. Spending 2 Void for +2k2 | 5k5 ⇒ 36 (TN: 20)- He doesn't get zonked.
Meditation/Void at TN 20, Benten's Blessing applies, spending last Void for +1k1
Advantages: Benten's Blessing | 6k5 ⇒ 38 (TN: 20)