[Day 11 - Mid Afternoon] Close to the Sun

[Kuni Shiori]

As agreed with their letter, Shiori would make her timely appointment to the Minor Clan residences to see Moshi Akane after court. She would carry a wrapped bundle under her arm in additional to her usual things.

"Good afternoon, this one is Kuni Shiori and I have an appointment with Moshi Akane-dono. I wish to have a conversation and acquaint myself with the Centipede Clan, please," she would say when she was stopped by the first attendant, bowing deeply when she stated the purpose of her visit.

[Moshi Akane]

The servant has a slightly confused look at Shiori's words but conducts her to the Lady Centipede, who bows from where she sits and motions for Shiori to join her.

"Kuni-san," she says, "what a pleasure! Have you eaten rice today?"

[Kuni Shiori]

When received by Akane, she would bow deeply to greet her. "Good afternoon, Moshi-dono. Thank you for receiving me today and I have had my morning rice, thank you. I hoped to acquaint myself better with you and your Clan, especially in light of the recent arrangements made with your Clan. I trust that you've already been well acquainted with members of the Crab Clan here but not less so with me, so it seems only right."

She paused for a moment and unwrapped the bundle she carried to reveal something of a flat bowl that seemingly was carved out from a darkened rock. "I wish to present a gift to you from House Kuroyama. This belongs to one of the founding members of the House some generations ago when we resided in the Black Mountains, Kuni Emiko. She was a researcher of the realms but also took to ikebana. It seemed appropriate that this bowl be only filled with flowers from those lands, as she used it for that purpose, but unfortunately, we are removed from those lands at the time being."

Shiori would bow once more and present the bowl forward. "Nevertheless, this is a piece from my House's history and it would be an honour to gift this to the Moshi, as one from that family will be joining House Kuroyama soon."

[Moshi Akane]

"It would not be meet to take a piece of your House's history," Akane says, making her first refusal.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori nodded soundly at that, well expecting it. "Yes, it is admittedly a part of our family's history, especially as a keepsake from our former lands. However, much of the legacy of those lands still lives in what we do and our memories. Those memories are also better spread when shared with others and I would sincerely hope that Moshi-dono will allow me that honour." She bowed once more.

[Moshi Akane]

"The honor is to have Kuni-san in company," Akane says, beginning her second refusal. "That is more than enough to keep in heard and mind."

[Kuni Shiori]

"I'm honoured that Moshi-dono would think so, especially already on first impression," she said with a flash of a brief smile. "But I feel it's only fair when it seems that my reputation has already preceded me in the negotiations. It seemed only fair that I gift something in return when you had me in your thoughts. I would be an honour to leave a piece of my House with you, Moshi-dono." She bowed once more and presented the gift once last time.

[Moshi Akane]

"And my House will treasure it," Akane replies, taking the bowl and setting it to the side, gently, with both hands.

"I can think of flowers from the Valley that will show well in it."

[Kuni Shiori]

"I can't think of a better purpose for this gift, especially in light of my arrangements with your Clan. It's poetic, I think. Thank you for accepting my gift," she said with a deep bow when she accepted it.

With that out of the way, she moved to join Akane where she was seated so that they could better talk. "We have much we could talk about, Moshi-dono...but I will start by asking that I hope proceedings in court have gone well for you and the Centipede Clan? I have to confess that I have been distant for much of the negotiations and trade. While my aid wasn't pivotal, it does seem to rid me much of the opportunities to know new people, which is very much an unfortunate side-effect."

[Moshi Akane]

"Meeting new people is always good," Akane agrees, "and I have had much opportunity to do so this season. I will hope you get more opportunities in the days to come.

"But as to the Clan," she continues, "we do well. We could do better, of course, but that's always the case.

"I expect as much is true of your people?"

[Kuni Shiori]

"Thank you, Moshi-dono. The last few days have taught me that it's often better to be proactive than hope that those opportunities come to you. Well, that's dependent on who you are. When you play the wallflower for so long, I don't think people are going to suddenly discover you and seek you out without reason," she offered a faint smile at that.

"Yes..." she said with a tinge of uncertainty. "My delegation has done much but I do believe there are still some holes to be patched in regards to having our rice stores filled and having jade on hand for our traditional purposes."

"However, I'm not here to speak on matters of trade, to be clear. I suppose I was hoping to glean some details and expectations of the Moshi when it comes to spirituality. Both day to day and in the courts. I know it's a broad topic but anything you wish to share would be most appreciated."

[Moshi Akane]

Akane smiles, and openly, at Shiori's words.

"It is refreshing to be invited to discuss theology!" she says. "So few seem interested in such things recently, which seems odd, given events."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori raised her brows on the matter. "I find it a bit strange that nobody has approached Moshi-dono to discuss or even mention anything of theology. I admit, that my Family isn't renowned for their pious nature but it is a topic that I am interested in, especially for the sake of my future spouse. I don't think our shared household will be devoid of worship of Lady Sun."

"There is a bit of uncertainty with some auspicious signs here and there. What are Moshi-dono's opinions on the recent events?"

[Moshi Akane]

"Which ones?" Akane replies.

"I don't mean to be glib, of course," she continues. "But there have been so many upheavals and unfortunate events that it becomes a challenge to track all of them."

[Kuni Shiori]

"Of course..." she said softly at first with a cautious nod of her head, wondering if they would be talking about the same thing. Or maybe, there were more personal sightings or manifestations.

"It does seem that I've discovered other occurrences around the Kyuden with each conversation as of late, especially with shugenja. In fact, I felt that it might have been a gross oversight to not have such spiritual conversations sooner," she said with an apologetic tone on the matter. "Perhaps I can speak from what I've witnessed? Have you felt anything relating to the earthquake on the first few days of court?"

[Moshi Akane]

"Other than the quake itself?" Akane asks. "Some unrest and anger among the kami, of course. But my connections are with fire and sky, rather than the ground beneath my feet. Not that it is unworthy of attention," she adds, patting the ground beside where she sits, "but only because my focus has to be elsewhere."

[Kuni Shiori]

"Understandable, it was a strange day considering that it rudely divided the courts without warning," she said with a nod. It was understandable that she would consider such things beneath her notice. "The quake itself appeared to be rather mundane. How about the day after? I spoke to a few shugenja and they said that they experience a sort of spiritual disturbance. This was on the same day as the late Empress's last public appearance in court."

[Moshi Akane]

"I cannot confirm it," Akane replies, "but I believe it coincided with the passing of Her Late Majesty.

"And I can understand the spirits' upset at her passing. I believe the Seppun that it was from natural causes, but even so, the death of the Empress with no heir named has to have unsettled things."

She interlaces her fingers.

"Of course, I think it clear who is closest to succeed, but, as Her Majesty did not announce as much, I could not say much more than that."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori did her best to hold back her enthusiasm on the matter and just nodded once. "...Actually, I had also suspected that it might have coincided with Her passing as well. I know that official Imperial decreet might make it at the time of announcement but it felt too auspicious to deny the coincidence. The late Empress was divine but it did make me wonder if she also had a tie to the kami, much like a shugenja, or such...unfortunate show of divinity is common among former rulers."

She raised her brows at the mention of the cause of death. While, she wasn't entirely sure, she would have to go with the findings if the Imperials had already looked at it. It had been a few days already and it was not like they were going to tolerate a Kuni doing forensics just to satisfy her own curiosity. "I see," she would say simply on the matter.

There was a moment she deliberated on the talk about the heir, which wasn't an avenue she wanted the conversation to go but it was enough to pique her curiosity. She supposed the was slightly a social call. "...those likelihoods aside, it seems that we're constantly receiving new developments, was there an heir that Moshi-dono would prefer?"

[Moshi Akane]

"Certainly the Lady Adviser has the most experience with governance and rulership," Akane replies.

"That said, I do not think Her Late Majesty was a shugenja, as such," she continues. "But as the Daughter of Heaven, she was surely the favored descendant of the Lady Sun, and I cannot think but that the kami would respond to Her passing."