A letter is delivered to Yogo Kiuchi in the weeks leading up to Winter Court. The eye is immediately drawn to the large kanji for Marriage that domnates the top of the letter.

It is said that every conflict in the Emerald Empire, both great and small, start and end with a marriage. Whether it's a war of succession, or an agreement that we measure from the western side of the river rather than the eastern for the purposes of determining the annual tax collection, Musubi-no-Kami is there. She weaves together threads from across the Empire, crafting fashions that will cause joy and despair until rent apart by Emma-O's spear itself.

Now this story focuses on three marriages: one decades ago, one weeks ago, and one yet to come. One can see the similarities between the first two; a samurai doffing the gold and brown in exchange for the red and black. But does color alone dictate two items belong in the same outfit?

To answer this question, we must travel back decades ago to the first marriage of this tale, when a Lion joined the Yogo......

Your collaborator in this story and this coming court,

Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji

Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji,

You honor me with your attention. I must admit you have intrigued me with your tales. I look forward to hearing more about them. Though I admit, I am quite familiar with the first. I truly hope for a happy ending to the second. As for third, that is still a mystery to me. Do you think it will end like the first two?

As for your question, I will say I believe the first tale ends with the red and black being very fitting colors. I am interested in your say in these tales.

Sincerely,
Yogo-ke no kaishin Itoh Kiuchi

Yogo Kiuchi wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 31, 2024 4:11 am

Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji,

You honor me with your attention. I must admit you have intrigued me with your tales. I look forward to hearing more about them. Though I admit, I am quite familiar with the first. I truly hope for a happy ending to the second. As for third, that is still a mystery to me. Do you think it will end like the first two?

As for your question, I will say I believe the first tale ends with the red and black being very fitting colors. I am interested in your say in these tales.

Sincerely,
Yogo-ke no kaishin Itoh Kiuchi

Yogo-ke no kaishin Itoh Kiuchi,

Thank you for your response and your well wishes. Many scholars argue that all tales end in tragedy eventually. After all, no matter what you secure in your tale, be it glory, honor, status, wealth or love, all will eventually be taken away by the passing of time, if nothing else. 'Had they merely contented themselves with what they had, with how things were, they would not have to suffer greater losses.' they say as they stroke their beards and their egos.

Worse stll, are those who demand tragic endings. Who are not content unless everything is reduced to ash and agony. Why do they wish this? 'Because all stories must end in tragedy.' they respond as if it were a great truth, given to them by Shinsei himself.

I personally feel this attitude cheapens a story, regardless of it's ending. How can one be invested in a struggle when the outcome is already known? Are we not both author and character alike?

Now that was a heated topic last winter. Whether all that we have done and will do is already predetermined, like a completed story on a bookshelf, or if our lives are more like a song being sung. Everyone was eventually pulled onto one side, be it the book side or the song side.

After arguing about it all season, the leaders of the factions faced off aganst one another. The faceoff started with Song-sama punching Book-sama in the face.

"How dare you punch me in the face!" shouted Book-sama.

"Ah, but don't you believe that everything is already predetermined, Book-sama?" Song-sama asked. "How can you be angry at me when I was always going to punch you in the...."

Book-sama interjected at this point with a left hook.

"And you believe it is all about choice, right, Song-sama? So how about you chose not to get angry." Book-sama retorted.

Many punches were thrown and epiteths, some pithy and some crude were hurled, but no positions were changed. Whether this is because it was predetermned that they could not change, or because they chose not to change is still a mystery.


But what say you, Yogo-ke no kaishin Itoh Kiuchi? Are you the author of your story? Are you actively working towards a good ending, or merely walking towards a tragic one?

And here I choose to end this letter and await a response,


Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji

Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji,

I am sorry it took me so long to respond. Your story gave me much to think about. I think it is typical for those in the Yogo family to see our stories as books. After all, the twist has been written down since our Family was founded. And the singers.... well, some of our most tragic tales are those who tried to sing new tales only to find their story was written down anyways.

But I agree, I don't really like idea of everything in tragedy. So, rather than a book, I prefer to think of it as a ledger. It is written down and there is no changing the numbers. But like a ledger, it means different things to different people. A profit for one is a loss for another. It depends on who is looking at the ledger. Some will see a tragedy. And some will see a happy ending. It depends on who is looking at it.

So, I shall continue writing in my ledger. I will seek as much profit as I can even while knowing loss at some point is inevitable. But how will my tale end? Tragedy or triumph? I do not know. Likely who is reading my tale. Though I'd be lying if I didn't like the idea of some singing it.

Thoughtfully,
Yogo-ke no kaishin Itoh Kiuchi

Yogo Kiuchi wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 31, 2024 8:02 am

Snip

Yogo-ke no kaishin Itoh Kiuchi,

There is no disgrace in taking the time to ensure one's responses are thoughtful rather than thoughtless. Perhaps I should have spent more time in considering my audience in my previous correspondance to you. Your response makes me think of that famous passage in 'And Benten Wept' where the samurai with more confidence than sense strode up to the beautiful Yogo maiden in open court and opened the conversaton with 'Sooooooo, has your curse discharged yet?'. Your family's curse is the most tragic in the Empire's history, and I did not mean to imply that it was something that could be overcome with a positive attitude and hard work. If I have offended, accept my heartfelt apologies on that matter.

Struggling against the impossible is a sure recipie for tragedy in a story. If one leaps from a cliff, they will surely fall, no matter how much they wish to soar instead. Unless they are beloved of the air kami and then they may indeed know the prayers to soar like a bird. What is impossble for some, is easy for others. Being able to identify what is actually impossible and what is merely seemingly impossible marks the divide between a tragedy and a heroic saga.

Such an appraisal brings me back to your own interpretation of a life's story, life as a ledger. My initial thought was that was even more restrictive than a book. After all, a reader can always take their own meaning away from a book, but if you take a different meaning from a ledger than the magistrate does, there will be problems. It also felt so much more passive than a story. A good story makes you feel as if you are in the room with the characters, but a ledger merely reflects what is.

However, after reflection, I realize there are some interestng ideas behind this notion of life as a ledger. True, a ledger merely reflects what is and has been, but those reflections inform the actions of others, and their actions will cause what will be written in the ledger to change. To identify the truth of past and present, and to honestly inform those above so they make better choices, thus impacting the future. This would seem to be a noble way to live, even if the value of such a life is not fully understood at first glance.

I look forward to meeting such an interesting person this Winter. Is there a certain brand of sake you prefer?

To mutual profit,

Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji

Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji,

Please let your mind be at ease. No offense was taken. Nor did I believe you meant that Curse could be overcome positive feeling. So, there is nothing to forgive. But I thank you for understanding.

I am glad you took a positive interpretation of my life ledger. It is how I meant it.

As far as sake, I am more interested in trying new things. I am sure you will be to recommend some good Lion varieties.

Sincerely,
Yogo-ke no kaishin Itoh Kiuchi

P.S. I also must thank you for mentioning "And Benten Wept." I never read it myself, but hearing that little line, I must admit interested. If only to learn the Yogo maiden's response.