Consulting the Heavens (D2, EE)

[Jihen]

The day had become quite a busy one for the young monk. With his efforts to aid his friends, attending court, and the preparation of sacred objects to honor the fortunes... Jihen's mind sought solitude.

He traveled outside the castle to the fields surrounding Ikoma's Eye. He brought with him his lists of potential pieces of calligraphy to honor Benten and Emma-O and turned his gaze to the stars.

He knew many of the proper ways of divination... and the subtle hints the stars would give in helping him choose which phrase to pick.

As the sun went down, he focused his gaze upward. Admiring the beauty of the universe, and the subtle wisdom it bestowed upon those who sought after it diligently...


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D2 Making Sacred Calligraphy, Divination, 4 Raises, VP | 10k8 ⇒ 45 (TN: 35)

[Seppun Sadako]

A lithe young woman--shadowed discreetly by a pair of heavily armed and fully armored Miharu--happens by along the paths between the now-fallow paddies. Seeing the monk, she keeps her distance, but it is impossible not to notice the presence of the Lady Seppun, herself.

[Jihen]

Having received his direction from the heavens... And seeing that this was not likely a chance meeting (because everyone knows that those aren't a real thing... Shinsei says so)... Jihen moved quietly and in an unaggressive manner towards the lady of the Seppun.

[Seppun Sadako]

The Miharu immediately move to intercept, but Sadako raises a hand, and they stop, still as if they had never done anything but be where they were.

"Jihen-san," she says, recognizing the monk and nodding her head in a bow. "I apologize if I have disturbed your quiet. I know it's hard to come by while Winter Court is ongoing."

[Jihen]

"Not at all Seppun-sama. You bring a peaceful and calming presence with you in your wings. I would have been more productive were you here before, no doubt." He replies with a bow of deference.

"What brings you out of the city at this hour? That is... if I may impose a question upon the Lady of the Seppun..."

He asks, "Perhaps to find some of that elusive quiet?"

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako laughs lightly, an honest sound.

"As ever, Jihen-san, you cut right to the heart of it," she says. "One of the virtues of your station, I suppose."

She walks closer, the Miharu remaining where they had been. "Although word is that your teacher had something of an argument in the Crane quarters earlier today. What all was that about?"

[Jihen]

He smiles in return at hearing her laughter, "It is certainly helpful at times... You get to act like an elder with no time for the 'young-uns' while still being a 'youngun' yourself. The black robe can be quite dis-arm-ing."

He then nods, "I was present for the interaction you speak of. The Crane had invited Masters Chou-sin and Do to assist them in creating a temporary shrine for Benten and Emma-O for the Winter. The two old men... 'Old man'd' as it were. Nothing too unseemly. Far less tense than many of the debates that take place within the walls of the Temples."

He smiled, "There might be some underlying tension there as it were... But we'll have to see how that gets directed. As for now, I was tasked with creating some centerpieces for the shrine... Which brought me out here to ask of the heavens for their opinion on my choices."

He then tilted his head, "It seems that there may be quite a bit of underlying tension present this particular Winter Court..."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako shakes her head at the pun as Jihen says it. But when he comments about tensions, she says "There's always tension at these. Absolute worst time of the year, especially if you get a bunch of younger bushi in delegations. Or the more libidinous courtiers."

She shakes her head again. "But you know that, of course. The Temples aren't exactly removed from this kind of thing."

She puts her hands behind her back, spreads her feet a bit. "And you're right. There's more this time. But given the situation and the announcement today, there could hardly not be. And I have to consider more of it than would otherwise normally be the case. You can guess why."

[Jihen]

"A heart torn by friendship, family, and practicality..." He replied with a nod.

"It must not be easy to have so many concerns pressing on you..."

He adds, "More than usual... that is."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako nods.

"Her Majesty, all glory to Her, has commanded, and the Seppun obey," she says. "Yet we also know that not all will be as, shall we say, diligent in their obedience as we. So there is that concern. And there is the matter that the Imperial Household has expanded all of a sudden, while the staff on hand has not. Duty rotations will therefore need adjusting, the logistics of which occupied much of my day today. Not to mention the ethics."

[Jihen]

“The unwillingness to obey has indeed been a source of great disharmony for too long now… Too many stray from the right way.” He nods in understanding.

“If my Master or I can be of assistance to the Hidden Guard, I would offer whatever aid I can. The teachings of my sect enable me to detect the movement of elements and life around me.” He offered.

“While I may not be the most adept at hand-to-hand combat…” He gently leans his missing arm forward.

“I would gladly offer all of my senses to protect the Imperial family… Something I may have done in another life not so distant from this one if things had been different.”

He finished, “Surely no one would complain of the ethics of the imperial family spending more time learning from one of the Brotherhood…”

[Seppun Sadako]

"You and your puns," Sadako says, shaking her head again.

"It is less an issue of enlisting appropriate outside aid," she continues, "than it is with one of our own being among the expanded Household. There are complications that arise from it, and while there is precedent, there is not much of it, and it is not recent."

[Jihen]

“One can bemoan their shortcomings and obstacles… or you can play with them and laugh. I prefer playing with mine… helps me distinguish them from me.” He replied with a smile.

“In a similar vein… Shinsei said: ‘It takes a wise woman to see an obstacle as it truly is and not what it appears to be’.” He quoted.

“What is the true obstacle behind the complications and precedents?”

[Seppun Sadako]

"Shiba-no-kami is quite clear with his pronouns," Sadako replies.

"But the crux is this: Seppun Tomaru is both a member of the protective contingent that must now encompass an additional Hantei and three others and one of those four. Which is not given to me to say, but I must treat all of them and each of them as if they are the Hantei. And it has been some time--if memory serves, during the reign of Hantei Genji--since a Seppun might have been a Hantei.

"The elder sister of Hantei Ningi, who did not accede, took the Seppun name, rather than the more common Otomo.

"So while there is precedent for how the Family reacts to such an occurrence, it is limited, and records of it are not here, most likely. They are certainly not entirely amenable to consultation. And I am left with the quandaries both of how to treat Seppun Tomaru and of how to navigate the sudden politicization of my Family duty."

She clenches her jaw.

"I hate that. It is a distraction, and I am seriously considering taking all of those involved into protective custody for the duration. One, maybe two people could meaningfully oppose it, and while one of them almost certainly wouldn't, the other most likely would.

"But this is not something that would be said where other ears than yours could hear."

[Jihen]

“Just one of the many ways I fall short of Shiba-no-Kami.” He replied with a nod.

He then paused and looked off to think, “Is that what you would really want to do? Take away all the politics and thought of who would or wouldn’t listen… Is that the path you would feel right about? The one that speaks to you the most?”

He shrugged, “It very well could be… It makes perfect sense. Much easier to protect them all equally…”

He smiled softly in support, “You must do what you feel is right in your heart. Search for the simple answer you feel to be true… and follow that to your solution.”

He then turned to look at the young woman who had been entrusted with so much at an early age, “The great part about talking with a monk… Is they aren’t even sure we’re all really here at all. You could very well be talking to the wind. What you say here never reaches further than your voice does… This particular wind is much more interested in having your words help you find what is in your heart than in carrying them to anyone else.”

[Seppun Sadako]

"Because of the politicking," Sadako says, "there is not a simple answer. My duty, my Family's duty, is not only for today, but for all days. Yes, I know I have to get through this day to meet the next one," and here, she points at Jihen, "but I cannot be blithe to that next one as I get through this one. Not even the beasts of the field are necessarily so, nor even the ants, and I hope to have a bit more in mind than they."

[Jihen]

“I hope I am not seen as trivializing your concerns… You are asked to bear such an important and difficult burden… but all the burdens in the world still don’t stop you from doing what you feel to be right. Your sense of Duty will undoubtedly influence what you sense to be right. As will countless other things that you have seen, heard, or have been told in your life. What is important is finding the center of it…”

His voice was gentle and caring as he continued, “If not abandoning thought of tomorrow feels right to you, then you have eliminated a wide variety of options. The more you think on the center… the fewer possibilities will cloud your thoughts… and the closer you will be to your answer.” He replied.

“Where is the center of it? What else feels right?”

[Seppun Sadako]

"The only center is doing the Family duty," Sadako replies. "The cost to any of us is inconsequential, although the question of 'how to do the duty most effectively' always remains.

"I suppose that's the rub."

She sighs.

"And that is not clear to me, that how."

[Jihen]

“Acknowledging your feelings of uncertainty is an indication of your humility… An impressive feat considering your status, brilliance, and beauty. That humility… when combined with earnest seeking… is a wonderful formula for growth and understanding.” He offered as encouragement.

“And remember you need not bear all the weight yourself. Those who have come before you do not simply glare down on you in judgment. They would have you succeed just as your friends here on earth would.”

[Seppun Sadako]

"Flatterer," Sadako says, shaking her finger at Jihen again.

She stops suddenly.

"I think I've been spending too much time around Kanehime-san," she admits, and she puts her hand back behind her. She laughs a little, ruefully, as she does so.