[Day 2, Early Evening] Butterflies (Expecting)

[Shiba Ryusei]

It was just a simple meeting to tour the temples.

Nothing more. Not even Clan business, No pressure at all.

So to say that Ryusei was more excited and nervous than he'd been in Court was, on the face of it, insane.

But there it was.

He'd dressed down a bit from Court (so he'd feel less like a peacock) but he was still conscious of his appearance. And was he a bit early?

Well. Yes.

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna arrived at the appointed time in the early evening, after the court-sponsored kemari activities.

She was still dressed as she had been for court (having attempted nothing athletic in the interim and perhaps wishing to look her best.) Her kimono was a bright emerald green, with thread-of-gold embroidery. Today, a pattern of mountain peaks, reaching up into a skyline of stars across her shoulders. Her usual gold headdress.

As she approached and stood close to him, there was a faint scent of fragrance. The top note had mandarin, lemon, and cassis. Bright and light. Just a hint of the green and earthy.

She smiled brightly to see him and gave a deep bow.

"I'm so glad we could visit the temple together, Shiba-san. I hope you do not mind a bit of not entirely spiritual conversation along the way. I am so curious about you. I'd be glad to hear more. Your lands, your family, your postings... anything you'd like to talk about."

"And we should also decide which shrine to visit first. I don't think we can go in the library, but certainly the temple of Tengen is one that draws me. I think I'd also like to make offering to Agashiko, who represents simplicity and reflection. And Fukurokujin, who is both wisdom and mercy. A lovely combination. And he is a major Fortune. Is it like court, where the major should be honored before the minor?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

Wow.

Just...

Wow.

...

She's speaking to you, idiot.

"Ah, but Agasha-sama, I could hardly make it all about me. After all, you are at least twice as interesting as I am, so I will tell you what I can, but I am also keen to listen."

At her proposed itinerary, he nodded.

"In point of fact, one honors the Fortunes in the order they spring to mind, or least that's how I've always done it. That often means the Seven take priority when one has the leisure of a temple- and you are quite correct, the library is off-limits to casual perusal by non-Lion, although I swung by yesterday just to stand in awe... met a rather pleasant Akodo there, as it happens... Sorry. I'm rambling. Happens when I get excited sometimes."

And when I'm comfortable around someone.

"But whichever order pleases you, Agasha-sama. Maybe start with the Seven, any who take your fancy, and then move from there."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled. A faint blush that he was curious about her, too.

"Mmmm. Perhaps we can trade story for story, fact for fact. That is after all a fine balance." And the Tao did encourage seeking balance in all things.

"But you must go first. Tell me about your family. Do you have younger siblings? What did your parents think was most important to teach you?"

She turned to look at the temple complex.

"Let us find Fukurokujin first. “The temple road is wisdom's golden path." If we start by asking for wisdom's blessings, we will surely learn more at the other shrines." Though perhaps it is wise to thank more than ask. Or at least thank first!"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"And if nothing else, I know for a fact that I could benefit from as much wisdom as I can secure."

Ge grinned, even as the topic turned to, well.

His family.

"In truth, my family is... we've had better days."

Centuries earlier.

"Part of why I'm here, in fact, is my father's... incapacity."

Yes, the man was missing a leg, but he was also an almost comically rude specimen of humanity. Although the joke wore thin in a hurry.

"Mother- she's the one who taught me Go, and told me stories, and gave me my first books to read- you ask what my parents thought was important that I learn? Father wanted m to learn to go to the dojo and become a bushi and generally stay away. Mother, though... she wanted me to learn command. I... wasn't the firstborn. Wasn't the heir. Until i was."

He took a deep breath.

"Father, well. He had a lot of himself in bantaro, and I think it... anyway. Mother grieved too, but she also wanted to make sure I was ready for what I'd inherit."

He managed a smile.

"And to know how to help her with the twins- my little brother and sister, Saburao and Mai. Saburo's... he's the quiet one. I'll probably miss his gempukku, being here- he's also a student of our bushi school. Alreadya better yojimbo than I'll ever be. Mai is the artist- studying at the Shiba Artisan Academy. So I'm sorry you have to put up the least accomplished member of my generation of House Shigi, but here we are. So. Turnabout is fair play.... how about your family?"

[Agasha Yuna]

She listened attentively to his description of his family.

"If your family has presently had better days, they must have been grand indeed for my impression is that they are influential now." Certainly more so than hers. "Is there a story to how and why your family was founded?"

"That is a good reminder that we must make time to play Go! It is something I enjoy, too. I made sure to bring a Go board and my shamisen. The two things that give me joy other than reading."

She put the pieces together as she listened. An older brother lost who had been the apple of the father's eye. Devastating him. Perhaps that triggered illness or some other incapacity? From courtesy, she did not inquire about that part.

"You sound quite fond of your siblings. And twins! That's a blessing. What kind of art does Mai-san do? Did you bring any with you?"

A pause, and then she added: "I will accept your assessment that they are remarkable, but so certainly are you. From everything I can see. I am honored to spend this time with you. Truly."

"As for my family... we are a small family with a narrow focus. Earth shugenja, focused on studying the earth kami and researching earth magics. Togahsi the Kami founded us. The original Ageki was a student of Agasha and she did him a great service, using her earth magic. All our shugenja take Ageki's vow to practice only earth magic. Given my bloodlines, centuries of breeding shugenja to shugenja, and my parents' skill, that I - their first born - should have no ability of the kind... it was a great disappointment to them. Happily, I have two younger siblings. My brother Riku is the heir. Second born. Immensely talented. And my sister Keiko is also quite talented. So all is well."

"I am very close to her. Riku-sama and I ... manage. It's been awkward at times. There was always - for years - the shadow of a chance that I would be a late bloomer and the heirship contested. It's better with that behind us. I am glad it has all turned out as it has. It means so much to him."

"My father was gentle if unsure what to do with me. He is steady and patient as the earth. Serene. Unshakable. My mother is not. She felt it keenly. Her failure. She's sharp as flint. That ... affected our relationship. But they taught me to be a Shinseist for which I am deeply grateful. To love the Tao. And that was a Way when I could see no other. I might have followed it all the way to a monastery, but my uncle intervened. Uncle Toma. He too is un-gifted - it connected us. He had left to seek his fortune in Otosan Uchi and Heaven blessed him (and me!) because it gave him the connections to get me to a school where I could thrive and find purpose. That's when I trained at the Asako Loremaster school."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Oh, the Shigi have served the Shiba since the Dawn of the Empire- Shiba-Kami found the Shigi tribe living on the shore and offered them a better life. And in his lifetime, the Shigi prospered- the First War saw us handling shipping up and down the entire coast, moving troops, refugees, and supplies. It was... so, there's the suitably glorious official histories, of course, but I've also read journals from the period and I can say, without false modesty, that we were the right House in the right place at the right time. We made a difference."

He sighed.

"Then, anyway. The intervening years have seen us relying more on the echoes of past heroics than our assets. But our name still carries some weight simply due to how many people ended up owing us their lives in the course of the war."

At her own description of her House, he... frowned.

"I do wish you wouldn't call yourself un-gifted. Your gifts are different from those of your siblings, to be sure, but you have them. The Loremasters don't accept just anyone, and certainly not just anyone from outside of the Clan. Don't sell yourself short."

He chuckled.

"And it sounds like your relationship with your siblings is solid enough, hm? Mind you, I make a point of teasing Saburo- he's so serious all of the time, and it's not good for someone so young. Mai- oh, she paints, and yes, I have one of her paintings with me- Mai's a social animal through and through. I think my coming to Court and her not getting to is the worst thing I've ever done to her, and that includes the time I dropped a live crab into her bath when she was six..."

He trailed off, shaking his head.

"And yes, we should play Go sometime. If only to decompress from Court!"

[Agasha Yuna]

Another Kami-founded house. A great deal to admire.

"I can understand how important Isora must be to you, as you describe how much depended on shipping. Troops, refugees, and supplies. I can imagine. And you have journals from that period! A family library? That's a great resource."

"I imagine shipping is every bit as needful in time of peace as war. Think of all the trades to be made here. The goods will have to move by some means. And their safe delivery will be a matter of honor and preservation of the hard-won peace."

"Your lands are directly on a coastline? It must be very beautiful. I can't really even picture it. I've never seen a coastline."

"I'd love to see Mai-san's painting. Does she choose natural subjects? People? Something else?"

She giggled at the live crab in the bath. "Are live crab as fierce as the stories about Crab? The Crab can? How big are they?"

"Perhaps you can send a letter and help Mai-san picture it and imagine she is here. She might enjoy hearing about the art here. One of the dragon delegation, Mirumoto Kichinitonda-san from our delegation is an artisan. He made a splendid calligraphic wall-hanging, using the kanji for mountain and dragon, and turning it into the shape of a dragon implied mostly by these little lines of what looked like ink flourishes at first, but were absolutely tiny renderings of each of our mons. All of us, our families and houses, making the dragon together. He can draw tiny tiny detail. He has a brush that is just a single hair."

"Another artisan, Agasha Masao-san, works in ceramics. She makes beautiful tea sets and brought one for us to use. Using moriage and used dragon motifs - dragonware. Gilted in gold. You can see it if you come by for tea!"

"I myself did calligraphy of sayings from the Tao."

"I am hoping to help my brother find a match. He is a little anxious at the prospect. But it's important. But it is a hard thing to find a shugenja available for marriage, talented enough to satisfy my parents, and willing to take the Ageki vow. I am hoping perhaps one of my fellow delegates will have a sibling who fits the bill."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Isora also represents... well. Coming home after a voyage. It's why that netsuke was something I carried for luck."

At her comment on the library, he gave a rueful grin.

"It has been somewhat... weathered by the years, but yeah, we still have our records. As Shigi fortunes declined over the centuries since the War, we needed to make sure we knew who owed us and for what. It's, ah..."

He sighed.

"I stand to inherit leadership of a House that's very much a project, Agasha-sama. We barely have a ship to call our own these days- most of our assets are like the banner I presented at Court- relics of former importance. It's... it doesn't do to speak poorly of one's ancestors, but I would dearly like to speak with mine and ask them the reasoning for some of their decisions. Most of our role in shipping these days is in putting in a good word for this or that captain, or supplying some finance for the ventures of others. I intend for us to... remember ourselves a bit more when I take charge, but I can't pretend it's going to be easy."

And then he brightened.

"But our land is beautiful- our castle is on an island offshore and since the opposing coastline runs east to west, we get beautiful sunrises and sunsets with a full view of each..."

You buffoon, she just told you she's never seen the coast.

"And sometimes, when things line up just right, we get a full moon over calm seas, and that, well... It's truly something. And as it happens... Mai-chan's painting is of our castle, so hopefully you can get some idea of it. She mostly works with landscapes- her portraits are, she'd be the first to tell you, her weakest efforts. But she has a good eye for geographic detail."

Ah, yes, the crab.

"A crab is as fierce as anything if you pick it up and carry it away from where it was living- and they pinch hard. But the one I dropped in Mai's bath was a little one. About the size of my hand when I was twelve. Very pretty actually, had a nice blue shell. Not that Mai appreciated it, of course! She about flew out of the room, and I had to do some flying myself because Mom was not happy."

It was a good memory, even with the punishment he'd richly earned having been administered.

"Writing her letters is a good idea... and I'll have to give you the credit, of course. Maybe I can describe that tea set... and your calligraphy. After all, I have a sample of it, but as a religious artistic display, I bet you pulled out all the stops!"

Oh this is bad, this is bad, Ryusei, you've got it bad.

Eh. I have it bad for someone good, that's hardly the end of the world. She values literacy, spirituality, Go, and peace between Clans...

Yes, I know, but you still have it bad, and-

Hush.

"Hm, for your brother's marital prospects... I'm afraid Mai-chan is no shugenja. The Phoenix Clan does have some... marriage material on offer, though, and I believe one them is young lady gifted with the Earth kami. But I don't know that an Isawa could be persuaded to forsake all other elements... it would have to be a serious discussion..."

[Agasha Yuna]

She listened closely. Smiling at him. Studying him.

"It sounds lovely. I'd like to see it very much. The painting. The place itself. I imagine its more than just the sight of it. That it has sound and scent." Another smile, thinking about it.

"It sounds like you just need resources. As the Little Teacher definitely did not say, but my uncle did. It's not really a problem if you can throw gold at it and make it go away."

I have gold. He must realize. I am draped in it.

"Ah, I don't mean to make light of what is surely a challenging project. Hard things have their gifts. They teach and refine."

The crab story continued to be adorable.

"Perhaps you could come to tea with me tomorrow at Dragon House. Then you can see the tea set and calligraphy. Mine and Mirumoto-san's."

The mention of the young woman skilled with the earth kami did catch her attention. "Oh! That is something to consider. I wonder if there could be an arrangement that she be given a period of time to study with the Agasha at the castle - my family and the visiting earth kami scholars and researchers. And then decide if she wanted to make the vow? I don't know that there is time to write to her and actually get a response back."

That raised a really key question in her own mind. How much time did any of them have?

"Shiba-san, this court is only fifteen days long. If there is something you ... your clan wants... "

Oh, she was making a fool of herself now. A faint blush.

"Look, here we are, the shrine of Fukurokujin." Breathe. Pray. Breathe.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Resources and, uh... vassals. But I suppose the former could help a bit with the latter- or vice-versa..."

Oh screw it.

"But the best resource would be a partner. Someone to offer new perspectives on the difficulties. New solutions. I sometimes think our proud history... shackled some of my ancestors, kept them from finding a way out of problems."

He paused. Smiled.

"Or, to quote a certain someone... 'It takes a wise man to see an obstacle as it truly is and not as it appears to be.' I think tea would be lovely. We might have business to discuss, too. As you say, Court is brief. But the nakodo can work out the detail if an initial agreement is made.”

Shinsei ALSO said “Hesitation is the seed of defeat.”

"So, Fukurokujin seems a fitting stop."

But I am totally gonna swing by Benten. And Musubi-no-Kami.

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna listened to his words with an increasing smile. Face radiant.

"It happens Shiba-san that I am a trained Karo. I serve now as an advisor to a Daimyo. It is the very skillset you describe. I should be very glad to be your partner, in problem-solving and ... in any way that you might want."

"I would be glad to speak to the Nakodo with you. And to my clan about the opportunity."

"And to pray that Fukurokujin grant us the wisdom to convince all parties who must agree to such arrangements to share some small part of my joy at the prospect. And to pray to Benten to bless us next."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei's heart did a cartwheel, and he did his best not to do the same.

He managed to keep his tone composed. But he was smiling.

"It seems we are in agreement."

The words- pompous and stuffy- were leavened with a wink.

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at the wink.

"I am so glad, Shiba-san. I am. Let's hope we can make it official."

She moved to follow all the rituals - like hand washing - on her way to take a place kneeling in front of the shrine.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei felt... lighter as he knelt beside her.

It was fast, they were moving fast, they'd just met, but...

But then, most samurai were simply assigned a spouse. Taking a hand in their fate was...

It's what we need, going forward. We can't just let destiny steer us, we have to work toward it. I want to do it together.

He lit the incense and got started.

Okay, Fukurokujin. It seems to me that Yuna and I are on the same page. We see it, it's not just physical attraction- although that's there, of course, she's lovely-

But we seem to be a good match. Help us find the wisdom to make this work. Let me be half as clever as she seems to be and we'll be a formidable combination.

...

And keep looking after Seppun Tomaru.I feel I owe him a debt of gratitude.

Please give me the wisdom to navigate Court successfully, and to do what's right by Yuna and her House.

Don't let me slip up and do something informal that might damage her reputation.

Let the Clans see the wisdom of peace, and.... I suppose asking you to bless my father might seem like throwing a pebble down a well and wishing for a mountain in its place, but if you could... open his eyes to what we could still do, the good we could still achieve.

...

And you know what?

Thank you. For making me smart enough to see more than just a pretty face. Thank you for all you've given Yuna.

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna prayed:

"Thank you, Fukurokujin, for all that is wise in the world. Thank you for the days in which the mud settles, and I can see a matter clearly. Thank you for the teachers you have placed in my path. For all who taught me the Tao. For the sensei who taught me to be a Loremaster. Thank you for all the libraries and librarians in the world."

"Help me see clearly the path that will have me wed to this good man beside me. Help me be a wise advisor to him for all the days of my life."

"Help me give Seppun-sama the best information and wisdom and guidance that I can, towards the goal - whosoever is Emperor - that there is more knowledge and wisdom shared to more people, and in the wisest and safest and most sustainable manner."

"Have mercy on me and all those I care about on the days I am foolish, for I am wise enough to know that I am fallible. Help me hear wisdom when it is offered, even when it surprises me and challenges me and humbles me, for those are the days in which I grow."

She remained some time in silent prayer. Open. Listening.

And then, after that perhaps uncomfortably long interval, she rose, expression peaceful and - when looking at Shiba-san - warm and fond.

[Shiba Ryusei]

He clapped his hands to wind it up, then rose.

"A good place to begin- wise, you might say."

Dammit, stop grinning!

"Benten next, or shall we be a bit more exotic?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"Benten next, I think. Given ... given all that we hope for. I have much to thank her for!"

"But I would like to do Agashiko and Tenjin before we leave. As close as we can get for Tenjin, without library passes, anyway." She sighed with a good-humored grin. She was still working on that.

"Any other Fortunes on your list?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Well. Your picks are good ones... Agashiko, in particular, is one people tend to neglect. They think simplicity and reflection are for monks, or something. Maybe Hotei... and Musubi-no-Kami, too."

He tried to school his expression. Temper his expectations, his optimism.

But damn it, he was happy.

"In private, please use my chosen name- I wouldn't want to risk any public... issues, especially not here, but..."

[Fukurokujin]

The happy couple will find a sense of approval emanating from the shrine at which they have prayed.