[D9, ME] Good Night, Sun

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Were the Moshi active after sunset? Or did they crave the forbidden light of lanterns and braziers? Sayomi was about to find out!

Like the day before, she had a box in her hands with a gift inside for the noble Moshi Akane, and like before she introduced herself at the door. "Kitsu Sayomi of House Tatsukawa, I come to see Moshi Akane-sama."

[Moshi Akane]

Sayomi is soon shown in, and, after a brief wait, she is brought to Akane's suite.

The Lady Centipede bows shallowly and says "Welcome, Kitsu-san. I trust you have eaten today?"

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi on the other hand bowed deeply to the Centipede daimyo. "Good evening, and thank you for seeing me, Moshi-sama. I've been blessed by Inari-no-kami today, yes. I trust you've also shared in their blessing?"

[Moshi Akane]

"At least twice," Akane replies. "And with thanks."

She motions to a couple of seating cushions, sinks down gracefully onto one.

"With what does the darling of this court need aid?"

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"You speak too kindly of me," she replied demurely and bowed.

"At first to offer a gift. This box contains local wildflowers from my home, near Water Dragon Lake. It is a humble offering of my home, and I hope it can find new home in the renowned Valley of the Centipede." Wherever it was.

[Moshi Akane]

"I could hardly take from Kitsu-san a reminder of her home," Akane replies. "Home is a blessing, as are reminders of it; I am a priestess, so how could I strip such a thing from such a person?"

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"Home is always in my heart and my soul, no matter how far away I am," she said in return. "On the other hand, I could never show the Centipede my actual homelands, but this would be a small token of what one could see there, in an effort to bring our clans just a little bit closer."

[Moshi Akane]

"Then the gift of Kitsu-san's company does all that, and more," Akane says. "For if her home is in her heart, and she is here, then that home must also be here, and her grace a testimony to its.

"I could not accept more."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Wow, so this is what it was like to offer a gift to a daimyo. It was a challenge, especially since Akane was so graceful and effortless in her refusals.

"Then allow me to be a little selfish, when I say that I wish I could have brought my grace to all the Centipede and their beautiful valley, but such is beyond just one person. Instead, allow these small tokens to take my place and to be the light of my home in places I cannot be."

[Moshi Akane]

"So delightfully put, I cannot but accept your gift, Kitsu-san," Akane says. "I shall look forward to their blooming, an ornament to my valley. And I hope you will be able to visit that valley someday, perhaps soon."

She takes the box and places it beside her, on the left.

"You said first," she continues, "which means there is at least a second."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"I hope I might one day see it," Sayomi agreed. She had heard so many great things about the valley, and rumors of where it might be. And then there was the painting during the art festival that had depicted it so vividly.

"The second purpose for my visit would be to discuss any potential trade between our two clans, if you would be willing, Moshi-sama. The Lion have decided to extend invitations to train in our dojo, in return for commodities we need."

[Moshi Akane]

Akane nods.

"I might be interested in such a thing," she says. "Although I might also be interested in other things I have heard the Lion offer. Something about a pottery development has come up in conversation, now and again."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"Hai, we have developed a new technique for creating pottery. The result is earthenware that will allow for a more successful storing of food, specifically rice, causing less waste and ensuring a more stable storage for the rice." And some clans had been ignoring it which was weird to her. Sure it wasn't an instant gain, but long-term it would be invaluable to many clans.

"It is the pride and joy of our clan at the moment, so we are very considerate with what we wish to trade it for."

[Moshi Akane]

"Understandably so," Akane says, nodding.

"So perhaps I will tell you of my own Clan's particular contribution this year."

She pauses for a moment, building just a little bit of tension.

"Are you familiar with the focus of my Clan's devotions, Kitsu-san?"

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Another nod. "I am aware that you are dedicated devotees of Lady Sun, blessed by her radiance and warmth. Some legends have it that Amaterasu blessed the founder with eleven daughters, to all carry the blessing of the Mother of Heavens and the Kami."

-----

D9 ME Fluff roll. Lore: Centipede Clan/Intelligence | 5k4 ⇒ 34

[Moshi Akane]

"As well as the services of a good healer," Akane agrees. "I have far fewer than eleven, and it was--well, I will say that I hope you, in time, have a far easier time of delivery than I did.

"But, to return to topic, our communion with the Lady Sun is such that, with the dedicated focus of prayer, we can confer upon a given person such grace as if they had been touched by the Celestial Heavens for a full year.

"We do not do this lightly, as it demands the full focus of the petitioner and substantial recovery afterwards. I, myself, took quite some time to return to myself after serving in such a way. But for a friend of the Clan, I was happy to do so, and I would even bid my own daughter to such a task for a good friend to the Centipede."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi was, for a good moment, stunned, and not even hiding it. What Akane was describing was quite incredible.

"I... am at a loss for words, Moshi-sama. That is quite the blessing you are capable of bestowing upon someone worthy for it. Though, while I could think of many good candidates among the Lion, I don't think we would be in a position to trade for such a blessing this season. Situations have strained our resources, and our focus is to restore that as much as possible." She bowed her head. "I am sorry."

[Moshi Akane]

Akane inclines her head.

"You need not apologize, Kitsu-san," she says. "All must tend to their family, House, and Clan."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"Such is the duty of a samurai," she said, nodding. "Still, that doesn't mean we cannot see if there is anything we can offer eachother, so we may both tend to our Clans."

[Moshi Akane]

"I must ask," Akane replies, "if the pottery development is among that strain. Can the technique not be shown to others?"