Do you say you do. (Day 10 Late morning.)

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi had thought about a few different ways to make this meeting work. In the end though he figured that the most direct approach was the only one efficient enough to make things work.

He'd invited the two culprits; that was probably the wrong word. To meet him here this morning before work to talk, and hopefully they would both arrive soon.

Luckily perhaps to them, he'd prepared a nice spread with a spiced black tea and a few sweet snacks to go along. He wasn't a total barbarian at least.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Good morning, Hiruma-gunso," Ryoichi said in a chipper voice. He bowed and took a seat at the low table.

"This looks very nice," he commented, admiring the breakfast spread. "Um, so what was this about again? Some news from the Matchmaker about my marriage prospects, was it?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Good morning to you as well, Yasuki-san." Daichi replied with a polite bow from where he was seated, gesturing for the other man to take a seat. "Yes, you mentioned something about a Miya as a prospect so when I spoke with the Matchmaker a few days ago I asked about it."

"It seems you have not one but two prospects though. Miya-ke no kashin Hojo O-Nana and a Kitsu Sayomi. I wanted to speak with you a bit about that and your preferences."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Oh! Kitsu Sayomi. Yes, I know her," Ryoichi said, looking pleasantly surprised. "The Matchmaker seemed to think Kitsu-san would be a good match, but we had already fulfilled the requisite two marriage arrangements already. Umm, is it possible the Lion are interested in an additional arrangement?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"I'm not quite sure yet." Daichi replied with a shrug. "I was wondering it if was something I should bring up, or if you would be more pleased with the chance to marry into the Imperial families."

"Seems like you do have a preference for Kitsu-san though. At least as far as I can tell."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Um. Well," Ryoichi said, shifting awkwardly. A hint of color flushed his cheeks. "Kitsu-san is well-spoken, graceful and courageous. Um, I'm sure Miya-san must have many nice qualities too? But I have not met her yet."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi felt a sneeze coming on as she approached the Crab house, and stifled it with a piece of cloth over her nose to just a tiny delicate "tchoo". Someone must be talking about me... or I'm getting the winter sniffles.

Tucking away the cloth into her obi, she stepped up to the Crab house and announced herself. She was here for a meeting with Hiruma Daichi.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"I thought that might be the case." Daichi replied with a nod. It was always easier to gaze upon the flower before you.

The conversation was passed though as Sayomi was shown into the room. "Kitsu-san." He greeted her warmly with a polite bow. "Please come in and make yourself comfortable. You have the most Impeccable timing."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Good morning, Kitsu-san," Ryoichi said, looking more composed than a few moments before, and bowing politely. "It's good to see you again. I trust you are doing well?"

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi bowed to both Crab samurai. "Good morning, Hiruma-sama, Yasuki-sama. I wasn't aware my timing was so strategic today," she replied with good humor and took the offered seat.

"I'm well, Yasuki-sama, thank you. I hope both of you are well and have had rice this morning?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I'm well, thank you for your concern," Ryoichi said politely. "I enjoyed the story you told yesterday about the monkeys of Kinoto Temple. I had not realized monkeys were so well learned!"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"A bushi's day starts early." Daichi replied easily. "So I've had rice already, thank you kindly for asking. Kitsu-san."

He finished as he waited for everyone to get situated before pouring tea for everyone.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"So it does, Hiruma-sama," Sayomi agreed. A proper samurai starts the day early, as stated by Akodo! "No rest for us, even in winter."

She nodded to Ryoichi and settled in comfortably. "Stories in my experience are full of well-learned creatures, great and small. It's my understanding that monks use such tales as parables for us to learn from," she remarked with a kind smile. "Thank you for the praise. I also wasn't aware that ningyo are rumored to swim in Earthquake Fish Bay?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Truly. Some might even say less rest." He observed with a wry smile.

Daichi would fall silent for a few moments after that though, allowing a few moments for the other two to chat.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

She nodded to Ryoichi and settled in comfortably. "Stories in my experience are full of well-learned creatures, great and small. It's my understanding that monks use such tales as parables for us to learn from," she remarked with a kind smile. "Thank you for the praise. I also wasn't aware that ningyo are rumored to swim in Earthquake Fish Bay?"

"It was a tale from long ago," Ryoichi admitted. "The ningyo are rarely seen any more. The legends say they have withdrawn from the realms of men, but once in awhile you hear a sailor's account of having seen one. But it is hard to know whether to credit such stories."

"Are the kitsu that your family is named after also shy and retiring?" Ryoichi wondered. "Or are they still a common sight in your home province?"

[Kitsu Sayomi]

To Daichi's comment, there was a quiet smile, but one that clearly echoed his sentiment. Oh, to be a humble guard again this winter instead of a delegate!

"Ah... no, the kitsu as they were at the dawn of the Empire are long gone," Sayomi added, with a touch of sadness. "Lord Akodo-Kami was very zealous in his hunt for them, thinking they were creatures twisted by his Lost Brother threatening the lives and safety of his followers and the citizens of the Empire. When he realised his error, there were very few of them left. Those few made peace with Akodo-Kami and joined his clan, and Lady Amaterasu gave them the body of men, who married Akodo's daughters and went on to form the Kitsu Family."

"Perhaps some still exist, in other realms, far beyond this one. But here in Ningen-Do, there are no true kitsu."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Ahh, I suppose it is the way of things," Ryoichi commented. "The five ancient races are mostly gone now, the stuff of legends. You know, I had convinced myself that the old monk that recruited us from the dojo was a kenku master. It seems so silly now, but it made sense at the time! I suppose as long as we remember the old stories, these fantastic creatures live on, in a way."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"A kenku?" she raised an amused eyebrow. "There are stories that some of them seek out worthy students, but I don't think I've encountered any confirmed stories of such happening."

In her experience, it was mostly Crane that spoke of such bird-teachers.

"Ah, but here we are, chit-chatting away. Which is pleasant, but I don't want to detract if there is business to discuss? Is this about the river-security I've heard about? If so, I think I might have a suggestion."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I understood that Hiruma-sama hoped to negotiate an additional arrangement between the Crab and the Lion Clans," Ryoichi said, as neutrally as possible. "Was, um, river security a part of that discussion?" He looked towards Daichi to see if he could clarify.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"That would be the winding way of talking about things, but it's close enough to the truth." Daichi replied with a wry smile. "I hope you don't mind that I skip around all the pretty words and flattery though and get to the center of the matter."

"I met with the Imperial Matchmaker a few days ago to discuss a matter of a potential marriage, and to check in on some possibilities for Yasuki-san here, and in addition to one other Yasuki-san had mentioned your name was brought up as well Kitsu-san. To only complicate matters further she suggested you as a possible match for me as well. As earlier in our conversation I had asked her of any possible matches she knew of who might suit me."

Daichi raised a hand to forestall any interruptions before continuing. "Now I outright rejected such a match at first, not due to any fault of your own Kitsu-san. But she had told me that Yasuki-san looks on you fondly, a fact that I have now seen myself. And while you strike me as a fine match for any Samurai Kitsu-san I would not attempt to make any such arrangements given the circumstances." He paused to take a sip of tea before continuing

"However, through sheer persistence Otomo-sama convinced me to speak with the two of you and assess the situation in a more hands-on manner before making any snap judgements."

"Now that we are all caught up on the matter at hand, I can apologize. I would have liked to handle this in a more delicate manner, but unfortunately, I do not have the time presently to be so discreet. So here we are in this awkward meeting of minds, and while we all digest the situation that a matchmaker that may be overly fond of pillowbooks has introduced us to we will start with simple questions."

"Would anyone like more tea?"