[Day 6 - LE] Noh is the Thing

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He returns then to Yuuwaku's side, sitting back again. "About the woman you asked earlier... I got worried you were not there to listen to the Shisha's words. I hope my sincerity is good enough, for I must say that she is the crown heir of the Empire."

"Then she is Her Majesty, even now!" Yuuwaku whispers. "Long may She reign. But why has not everybody bowed to her? Why have we not?"

She looks about, marveling that the presence of the Empress Herself--because, with the death that has been related to her, the heir assumes the position automatically, as she understands it--occasions so little attention.

And I dare not approach so! she thinks.

"I was so entertained on our conversation that I noticed not. Bowing to her now would indicate that we didn't do so before, of course. She is on her musha shugyo as I understood it. The Empress, praised be her on Tengoku, connection between heavens and earth, has passed away, and thus her musha shugyo had come to an end."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I was so entertained on our conversation that I noticed not. Bowing to her now would indicate that we didn't do so before, of course. She is on her musha shugyo as I understood it. The Empress, praised be her on Tengoku, connection between heavens and earth, has passed away, and thus her musha shugyo had come to an end."

"Kakita-bugyo had mentioned something of that to me earlier today," Yuuwaku replies, raising her fan again. "But that does not ease matters."

I hope she likes the play, Yuuwaku thinks. It will go badly for us all if she does not.

[Kitsuki Naida]

The big Crabs eyes drift over to the voice and a smile creeps onto his lips "A hot soak is a much preferred venue than this courtyard. Perhaps if the play were being performed in the baths I might be more interested." He said with a laugh

"Is Kitsuki-san a fan of the arts?" He asked with his usual grin in place as he regarded her with mismatched eyes.

"Oh I love the arts; People showing off their training and passions for us. Or at least, I hope they are passionate about their work. You can kind of tell when someone is putting their all into theater as opposed to just going through the motions, I think. Perhaps it's a side effect of my little problem, that I listen more closely and can tell based on that."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I was so entertained on our conversation that I noticed not. Bowing to her now would indicate that we didn't do so before, of course. She is on her musha shugyo as I understood it. The Empress, praised be her on Tengoku, connection between heavens and earth, has passed away, and thus her musha shugyo had come to an end."

"Kakita-bugyo had mentioned something of that to me earlier today," Yuuwaku replies, raising her fan again. "But that does not ease matters."

I hope she likes the play, Yuuwaku thinks. It will go badly for us all if she does not.

He nods. "We are the most honored she is here. I hope Yushoko-sama brought her best friends. Such a shining example of courage... Have any other heirs in history embark in a musha shugyo?"

[Dapper Dog]

The play began with haunting music to set the mood and a priest of the Crane called upon the kami to create mist and set the mood for the retelling of a soldier in the afterlife recounting their victories and failures and ending with their judgment before a figure that seemed a monk but was revealed to be Emma-O and they decided the warrior’s fate.

The second piece was a romantic story, a retelling of the story of Hida-no-kami and his wife, a stirring romantic piece that ends with tragedy and his wife’s death. Both pieces are acted well, and they utilized a priest to add visual effects and atmospheric effects to enhance the mood and scenes.

At the end the stage is cleared away and the audience is allowed time to mingle and socialize as the troupe broke down the set. The response from the Crab seems to be positive especially the latter story of mighty Hida.

OOC: Noh Play Performance: 9d10o10k4 29

[Oturi Yuahime]

Yuahime found the play to be enjoyable and produced her fan and offered her approval in typical Rokugani fashion.

[Otomo Saisei]

The Crane sighs. "Would that I could stay to have heard more, but it appeared to me that the Mantis -- trailed by a ronin and two Imperial bushi -- made for Otomo-sama after the announcement of the new empress, who had been on musha shugyo among the ronin here. Otomo-sama himself seemed greatly surprised at the news of the new empress, though how could one not be?"

"Indeed. Quite surprising. I am thankful for the information, Masao-sama. I will inquire my master about the topic of their conversation so I can check how I can be of further help. I sounds quite worrisome to have a full pack circling around one." The Otomo replies before the play starts.

At the end the stage is cleared away and the audience is allowed time to mingle and socialize as the troupe broke down the set. The response from the Crab seems to be positive especially the latter story of mighty Hida.

The Otomo provides an approval of the play, and then lifts himself up slowly. He provides a bow to his friend, and says, "Duty calls. Would you join me?"

Yuahime found the play to be enjoyable and produced her fan and offered her approval in typical Rokugani fashion.

Moments after Yuahime's approval is provided to the troupe, an Imperial in crutches slowly approaches her. He then stops and provides a sharp bow and waits to be acknowledged, if so she wishes.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He looked to Yuahime and then to Yuuwaku in a smile he could not hide. He had seen better plays for sure, but the retelling of how Mashiko's tanto came to be still burned on his mind. It was totally the redeeming moment on his opinion.

...

"Let's meet the artists?" He turns and asks her.

[Oturi Yuahime]

Moments after Yuahime's approval is provided to the troupe, an Imperial in crutches slowly approaches her. He then stops and provides a sharp bow and waits to be acknowledged, if so she wishes.

She acknowledge him and said, "Otomo-san, I see you are still recovering, that was a brave thing you did last night."

[Otomo Saisei]

She acknowledge him and said, "Otomo-san, I see you are still recovering, that was a brave thing you did last night."

He keeps the bow for another heartbeat, and then rises up. As Saisei's eyes are cast down, since status now demands, he replies with a shy grin, "Oturi-denka is too kind. This one only did that which was necessary at the moment to mitigate past mistakes, as unworthy as it seems. Perhaps another couple of days and this one will be able to present himself better to serve, if Heavens so permit."

[Oturi Yuahime]

"I will not be traveling until after the wedding," she said warmly.

"Your service to the village and to the Crab has been beyond what could be expected of any guest, allow me to say that I would be Honored to receive you when you are feeling better."

[Otomo Saisei]

"This one is truly honored for Oturi-denka's appreciation. Additionally to that, this one is also greatly thankful that she was there aiding the group led by Kakita-bugyo." Saisei bows again, and holds his chest out of a small pang of pain with a suppressed groan. He adds, "Indeed a pleasant surprise after the sad news, and a sign that the Heavens do bless us all."

As the Otomo returns from the bow, he sees the shining eerie figure that often follows him right at their side. It looks at him with narrowed eyes. It measures his every word and action.

With another nod, he takes crutches back under his arms to support him, and takes a step back, understanding others would potentially approach Yuahime.

[Kakita Masao]

...

...

Where's he... Oh. No.

The Crane nikutai, who had scarcely been able to keep up with the man on crutches because he couldn't believe where they were going, falls quickly into the deepest bow of his life and manages not to embarrass anyone by remaining silent through the exchange.

Masao is relieved to not be scrambling as he follows Saisei after they're away from the empress, but he's hardly happy. In a stern whisper, he rattles off, "I can't believe you just did that. Also, you clearly need to tell me what happened last night. Also, you better tell me fast, because I'm not sure either of us is going to survive Toritaka-san's thoughts about all this.

[Otomo Saisei]

The Crane nikutai, who had scarcely been able to keep up with the man on crutches because he couldn't believe where they were going, falls quickly into the deepest bow of his life and manages not to embarrass anyone by remaining silent through the exchange.

Masao is relieved to not be scrambling as he follows Saisei after they're away from the empress, but he's hardly happy. In a stern whisper, he rattles off, "I can't believe you just did that. Also, you clearly need to tell me what happened last night. Also, you better tell me fast, because I'm not sure either of us is going to survive Toritaka-san's thoughts about all this.

The Otomo expression is –– initially –– amusingly curious as Masao's starts ranting. He replies back with rhetorical serenity, "What is there not to believe? It is our Imperial Princess we are mentioning. I am trained to do that, Masao-sama. Actually, that's my duty."

Then, as he's about to explain what happened the other day to satisfy the Crane's inquiring, Saisei does cock his head back a bit as the Toritaka is mentioned. As he slowly turns his eyes to look at her, he says, "Huh? Toritaka-san?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Let's meet the artists?" He turns and asks her.

"Yes, let's," Yuuwaku replies. "And to congratulate Daidoji-sempai on the commission, as well."

She rises to proceed thence.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Let's meet the artists?" He turns and asks her.

"Yes, let's," Yuuwaku replies. "And to congratulate Daidoji-sempai on the commission, as well."

She rises to proceed thence.

He nods and follows her. He hoped that, if they were known to him, that they were one of the students at least friendly to him or Yuuwaku.

[Yoko]

-snip-

Yoko'd found herself a spot toward the back where she could be out of the way. After the play, she had but the comment of: "Fancy," which she gave ultimately to herself as none of the others around of her would deign to notice.

Still, when it was all said and done she took her glance around and found a familiar big guy out there among the rest. Making her way over she slipped up next to him, and leaned in a little, "Hey, Ichiro-sama," she glanced, smiled, "been a while, eh?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Yes, let's," Yuuwaku replies. "And to congratulate Daidoji-sempai on the commission, as well."

She rises to proceed thence.

The acting troupe is busy putting things away and bow respectfully to their clan mates, though a bit uneasy when they find out the crown princess, well essentially Empress to be, is in the audience.

[Dapper Dog]

He nods and follows her. He hoped that, if they were known to him, that they were one of the students at least friendly to him or Yuuwaku.

OOC: Leave it to the players if they know any of them or not. In total there look to be about eight members.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

He nods and follows her. He hoped that, if they were known to him, that they were one of the students at least friendly to him or Yuuwaku.

OOC: Leave it to the players if they know any of them or not. In total there look to be about eight members.

Yuuwaku returns the bows offered, bowing slightly deeper to the senior students, some of whom she recognizes.

"Kakita-senpai," she says to one, a Noritoko, "thank you for honoring us with the performance; it was a pleasure to watch and instructive.

"You do remember Asahina Sanaharu from the Academy, yes? He was in the next class after me, as I was in the one after you; I believe we had some painting seminars together."

[Dapper Dog]

"As I live and breath, it has been some time," they said warmly with a deep bow.

"Please tell me you liked the performance? No one told us we would have such an esteemed member in the crowd, I hope they liked the choices."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He bows deeply. "Kakita-senpai, it is also a great pleasure to meet you again. Have you eaten your portion of rice today? To ease your doubts, She, glorious is her name, lifted her fan in approval."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"It seems so," Yuuwaku replies, "as Asahina-san said. And I enjoyed it, at the least. And it seems that both Daidoji-senpai and the lady of the castle, here, approved, as well. So congratulations are in order--and I can recommend places for after."

[Dapper Dog]

"Squeeee..." they uttered and then added, "Now where is this Blue Bird House? We were told we could stay there?"

"Oh and yes, we are quite sated and hope you are as well," they said in response to the Asahina.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Squeeee..." they uttered and then added, "Now where is this Blue Bird House? We were told we could stay there?"

"Oh and yes, we are quite sated and hope you are as well," they said in response to the Asahina.

Yuuwaku gives directions to the house and adds, in case they are being overheard, "It shows remarkable effort on the part of our hosts, truly. I have had no cause for complaint in it, although I am certain that your company will brighten it even further.

"So you only arrived today?"