(D2, MM) A Prayer and a Wing

[Shiba Ryushi]

"Are you sure you want to hear such cheesy story. Is not that it brings me joy just gives me hope. That one day I can be redeemed."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Are you sure you want to hear such cheesy story. Is not that it brings me joy just gives me hope. That one day I can be redeemed."

Eiji nodded.

"A story that gives one hope is certainly worth hearing.'" he encouraged.

[Shiba Ryushi]

"Well... it's a story about two earth shugenja from rivaling houses. The two of them were pacifist and wanted a peaceful resolve... yet the head of the houses wanted to start a war." Ryushi started their story. "Cliché right."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Well... it's a story about two earth shugenja from rivaling houses. The two of them were pacifist and wanted a peaceful resolve... yet the head of the houses wanted to start a war." Ryushi started their story. "Cliché right."

Eiji tilted his head a bit at that.

"I'm not quite sure what Shiba-san is labelling cliche here. The concept of love? The struggle between one's personal desires and Duty to your family? The clash between pacificism and the militant nature of our Empire?" he questions.

He shook his head.

"These are powerful themes that resonate with the samurai of the Empire. To proclaim a story of thus tired and worn out before one has even properly introduced the characters seems hasty in the extreme." he proclaimed.

He leaned a bit against the back of the library.

"So tell me about these two earth shugenja, Shiba-san. When did they fall in love? What drew them together when their houses wished them apart? "

The Scorpion had seized this story in his pinchers, and it seemed the Shiba's plan to secure his release through boredom had backfired tremendiously. A story was offered, and a story would be told, start to finish.

[Shiba Ryushi]

Ryushi shook his head. "Right... the two shugenja met in a winter court like this one. They were trying to negotiate a treatise but never came to a term. They did have an understanding, Umi and Oma knew that the mountains were a place to meet after the winter court." He continued the story that the Scorpion had entrapped the Phoenix into telling. "They created a tunnel that only they knew where to find it."

[Soshi Eiji]

Ryushi shook his head. "Right... the two shugenja met in a winter court like this one. They were trying to negotiate a treatise but never came to a term. They did have an understanding, Umi and Oma knew that the mountains were a place to meet after the winter court." He continued the story that the Scorpion had entrapped the Phoenix into telling. "They created a tunnel that only they knew where to find it."

Two shugenja certanly did make for an interesting catch to the story, being able to literally make their own secret tunnel in the mountains to meet within.

The Scorpion was clearly engaged, but knew not to disrupt a storyteller by speaking aloud, instead giving the Phoenix an encouraging nod to continue the tale. What would happen next?

[Shiba Ryushi]

"Things got heated up between the two houses and war ensued Umi and Oma were now enemies in paper but lovers in reality. They had to sneak out to get to see each other. Neither side was winning and Umi and Oma were worried that this war would never end. One of the soldiers of Umi's house found the tunnel and reported it to their commander. Umi overhead this news and quickly had to move." The Shiba pause just for dramatic effect.

[Soshi Eiji]

"Things got heated up between the two houses and war ensued Umi and Oma were now enemies in paper but lovers in reality. They had to sneak out to get to see each other. Neither side was winning and Umi and Oma were worried that this war would never end. One of the soldiers of Umi's house found the tunnel and reported it to their commander. Umi overhead this news and quickly had to move." The Shiba pause just for dramatic effect.

Such drama! The Soshi's full attention was on the Phoenix to see what would happen next. A breath was held at the dramatic pause, as if a careless breath would betray the lovers.

[Shiba Ryushi]

"Umi went to the tunnel and decided to ask the kami for help. Kami tend to be fickle and misunderstood Umi's plea. The tunnel now became a living labyrinth with different ways to go but how would Oma know where to meet Umi if the original tunnel no longer exist?" The Shiba asked the Scorpion.

[Soshi Eiji]

"Umi went to the tunnel and decided to ask the kami for help. Kami tend to be fickle and misunderstood Umi's plea. The tunnel now became a living labyrinth with different ways to go but how would Oma know where to meet Umi if the original tunnel no longer exist?" The Shiba asked the Scorpion.

Not being particularly well versed in what the kami could and couldn't do, Eiji was not entirely certain how that would happen. Still, he trust the Shiba to find a good use to the twist in the story.

[Shiba Ryushi]

The Shiba continued. "Oma prayed to the fortunes to let her find her beloved. The didn't respond quite the way one would expect. Umi have no idea how to find Oma either. The soldiers were starting to use the tunnels to invade the other side but never got to meet or even arrive to the enemy lines. The wind whispered to both lovers to speak with the earth. The earth made them a path to find each other with a special feature as all the elements were aligned to make this couple find themselves. Water helped move the earth, air whispered the directions and fire light the way in suchbway that only Umi and Oma could see." The Shiba cleared his throat and nodded. "They finally saw each other but it was not for long. They were expected on their houses and they didn't know how to get back. Would the same trick work again?"

[Soshi Eiji]

The Shiba continued. "Oma prayed to the fortunes to let her find her beloved. The didn't respond quite the way one would expect. Umi have no idea how to find Oma either. The soldiers were starting to use the tunnels to invade the other side but never got to meet or even arrive to the enemy lines. The wind whispered to both lovers to speak with the earth. The earth made them a path to find each other with a special feature as all the elements were aligned to make this couple find themselves. Water helped move the earth, air whispered the directions and fire light the way in suchbway that only Umi and Oma could see." The Shiba cleared his throat and nodded. "They finally saw each other but it was not for long. They were expected on their houses and they didn't know how to get back. Would the same trick work again?"

If the Phoenix thought this story was cliche, his lands certainly must be filled with amazing tales. Still, he had the Scorpion's full attention. You didn't turn away at a cliffhanger such as this.

[Shiba Ryushi]

The Shiba frowned. "Sadly, the trick didn't work. Umi and Oma had lost hope they embraced strongly and during that embrace Oma noted something on the floor. Hope has filled her eyes. The two had to follow the same path but to where it would take them, fortunes only knew. The pair walked for many breaths; they were lost in the cavern system that was created for them. Eventually, they saw the light at the end of the tunnel. They came out to the general of Umi's side waiting for them. It seemed that them being lost had brought peace between the houses. Their parents were worried about losing their heirs. Noting that the two were safe and in love, the two houses put their differences aside and decided to work out a peace treaty." Ryushi had concluded the story with a nod. "It is quite the story, and I may have left some details out, but you know the overall and why it is my favorite to portray hope."

[Soshi Eiji]

The Shiba frowned. "Sadly, the trick didn't work. Umi and Oma had lost hope they embraced strongly and during that embrace Oma noted something on the floor. Hope has filled her eyes. The two had to follow the same path but to where it would take them, fortunes only knew. The pair walked for many breaths; they were lost in the cavern system that was created for them. Eventually, they saw the light at the end of the tunnel. They came out to the general of Umi's side waiting for them. It seemed that them being lost had brought peace between the houses. Their parents were worried about losing their heirs. Noting that the two were safe and in love, the two houses put their differences aside and decided to work out a peace treaty." Ryushi had concluded the story with a nod. "It is quite the story, and I may have left some details out, but you know the overall and why it is my favorite to portray hope."

The Soshi nodded.

"Indeed I do. I think it's quite a good story, Shiba-san. One you should be more willing to share during these long winter nights." he said.

Eiji looked at the position of Lady Sun in the sky.

"Apparently Lion-san is engaged in some very heavy research. I would like to continue to wait for them with you, Shiba-san, but I do have other duties to attend to. However, meeting you and sharing in your story was definitely an honor, and I hope to hear more from you in the coming days." he offered.