[Day 6 - LM] Miya and You

[Asahina Sanaharu]

Watching the young courtier lift himself up, he stood ready to catch him should he fall. Fortunately, he did not, even if his movements and figure indicated otherwise.

Of course, he seemed to be too ill there. Maybe he was forced to stand on this place by the Yusuke. He looked sideways to see that the other Otomo had just arrived.

"Should you require their service, Otomo-sama, I know from this castle three shugenja." He bows again to leave, and walks towards his superior.

Yusuke was present to hear this news.

[Otomo Yusuke]

"Asahina-san, how can I help you?" he asked with a warm smile.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Have you eaten your portion of rice today, Otomo-sama?" He replied with a deep bow. "A shisha... The most curious sight, isn't it? Oh for I would not put the words on the mouth of a messenger of the Emperor, but I really do wish he is to declare that the Emerald Champion sanctioned this peace made."

[Otomo Yusuke]

"Have you eaten your portion of rice today, Otomo-sama?" He replied with a deep bow. "A shisha... The most curious sight, isn't it? Oh for I would not put the words on the mouth of a messenger of the Emperor, but I really do wish he is to declare that the Emerald Champion sanctioned this peace made."

"I am sated, and pray the Fortune of Rice has blessed you as well."

"One can hope the news would be so fortuitous," he agreed.

[Dapper Dog]

The high ranking Crab were in attendance and the Lord of the Castle gave her nod to the Miya.

The Miya saw the crowd was sufficiently gathered and then reached into a satchel and pulled out a scroll. He broke the seal and then cleared his throat and said, “On the 11th day of the 3rd Month in the year 1178 our glorious Empress Oturi departed this realm of mortals. It was a most resplendent and peaceful ending to a long and Honored life, in Honor of this Empire will enter five days of mourning ending on the 26th day of the 3rd Month.”

“Long may the lineage of Oturi reign, and it is expected that her successor will be officially crowned in the coming months, in the interim Oturi Toriyama shall hold regency of the Empire until minor perfunctory matters are settled. The Empire mourns the loss of the divine daughter, but a new era will soon begin, and the Empire will endure.”

He finished with, “This news saddens our hearts, but we all have our duties and we will pass through this dark time together. The Oturi line endures and will guide us to a bright future. Thank you for your time, and go in peace.”

“I have a few personal messages from the Capitol to hand out,” he added as he turned to the high ranking Crab.

[Otomo Yusuke]

Yusuke nodded and said softly, "The Empire will endure."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods with a slight smile to the Otomo, stopping to talk to listen to the imperial herald. He expected... Not this. He needed not to take his fan to hide his mouth, however. The passing of the Empress herself, daughter of the heavens... Shocking, sure, but he was not personally affected to make reason to break his on. However, out of respect, he did remove from his face the friendly smile given to the Otomo and lowered his head.

He reminded himself to change to white kimonos later.

"She shall be reunited with the Fortunes." He replied in the same tone to the Otomo.

[Yoko]

"I don't believe so? Some might think it's related but from what I can understand the beast was here before the curse started." A soft frown crossed him features for a moment. "Either way I'll need to look into it just in case." There needed to be a funeral too. That would be a private affair for his crew though.

"You're right though... It's weird to say the least... Having memories of things that seemed to not have happened at all. At least I remember most of them though, so that's close enough to it beign real."

"Sorry for-" she started to say when the Miya took attention. Crossing her arms tight she listened, holding the pipe loose between her lips. Bringing up her hand to let it fall she chuckled a little, air blown out from her nose, there was a nervous tinge to it. "So it begins..." she says, shakes her head. Yoko paused, taking what measures seemed right with the news of the passing. Another great woman died after all, if you asked her.

After a bit, she spoke softly, "Ask me, sounded awfully vague, don't you think?"

[Otomo Saisei]

Yusuke was present to hear this news.

Saisei notices his master, but the flock of birds around him potentially hide him from eyesight.

Watching the young courtier lift himself up, he stood ready to catch him should he fall. Fortunately, he did not, even if his movements and figure indicated otherwise.

Of course, he seemed to be too ill there. Maybe he was forced to stand on this place by the Yusuke. He looked sideways to see that the other Otomo had just arrived.

"Should you require their service, Otomo-sama, I know from this castle three shugenja." He bows again to leave, and walks towards his superior.

"I would be most honored if they are so kind, yet I would never demand their aid." He says, humbly, and blinks as the Sanaharu leaves. His attention though, is completely moved to the Imperial proclamation, as the Miya brakes the seal.

Holding his internal struggle, Saisei takes a deep breath, and lowers his head to bow once more in prayer, "This one is grateful for the blessings our Departed Empress has given. May the ancestors be her guide."

[Kakita Masao]

With the news received, the Kakita mumbles something to himself, then leans toward Otomo Saisei.

"Alright, Saisei-san, duty done. I hope to speak more later. For now, please retire while I speak with your cousin," Masao says, quiet but insistent. Leaning toward the Falcon, in the same voice he says, "Toritaka-san, please encourage our friend away from here."

With Otomo Yusuke so close, its not easy to keep his focus away from the path that Saisei will need. But, if the Daidoji school teaches only one thing, it's physical maneuvering to achieve advantage. And so it is that Kakita Masao slides into Yusuke's presence, keeping and extending the attention already being drawn by Sanaharu.

"Otomo Yusuke-sama, good wishes to you this morning," making his bow a little deeper and a little slower than necessary. "You likely do not recall this humble soldier, Kakita Masao, nikutai of the Iron Warriors and son of the honored governor of Samui Kaze Toshi, Kakita Haruka-dono." The polite Crane smile is in full effect.

[Fuzake Hifumi]

Hifumi glanced at Sutorenja when the expected proclamation came. This was only the beginning.

[Otomo Yusuke]

"Otomo Yusuke-sama, good wishes to you this morning," making his bow a little deeper and a little slower than necessary. "You likely do not recall this humble soldier, Kakita Masao, nikutai of the Iron Warriors and son of the honored governor of Samui Kaze Toshi, Kakita Haruka-dono." The polite Crane smile is in full effect.

"A man of honor, and his son will surely be his equal in time," he said positively.

"I am honored to speak with you, my boy."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

...

She shook her head. "Sometimes the injured are taken away from the front so they can live to fight another..."Then the news of the departed Empress. "May her soul be reborn." She lowered her head in reverence.

With the news received, the Kakita mumbles something to himself, then leans toward Otomo Saisei.

"Alright, Saisei-san, duty done. I hope to speak more later. For now, please retire while I speak with your cousin," Masao says, quiet but insistent. Leaning toward the Falcon, in the same voice he says, "Toritaka-san, please encourage our friend away from here."

With Otomo Yusuke so close, its not easy to keep his focus away from the path that Saisei will need. But, if the Daidoji school teaches only one thing, it's physical maneuvering to achieve advantage. And so it is that Kakita Masao slides into Yusuke's presence, keeping and extending the attention already being drawn by Sanaharu.

"Otomo Yusuke-sama, good wishes to you this morning," making his bow a little deeper and a little slower than necessary. "You likely do not recall this humble soldier, Kakita Masao, nikutai of the Iron Warriors and son of the honored governor of Samui Kaze Toshi, Kakita Haruka-dono." The polite Crane smile is in full effect.

"I will try, Kakita sama." Her tone was quite serious.

She looked again to Saisei. "Otomo sama, now that news have been delivered, will you please allow me to take you back to bed." She shook her head. "Don't make me call Kuma to persuade you."

[Sutorenja]

Hifumi glanced at Sutorenja when the expected proclamation came. This was only the beginning.

She lowered her head to consider everything that was just said... the Monkey noticed that after delivering a letter to Fuboshi he made a beeline for the ronin.

[Dapper Dog]

“Are you the ronin, Sutorenja?” the Miya said, though by his approach it seemed he was certain that she was.

“I have a personal message to deliver, may we speak in private?”

[Sutorenja]

She bowed deeply and said “Miya-sama, I am honored by your presence. I apologize but if you have a message for me, then you may do so here and now. I pray no insult given.”

She was wary and did not want to be parted by those that had aided her.

[Dapper Dog]

The Miya nodded and then pulled the last letter from his satchel and broke the Imperial seal as he cleared his throat and said, “From the desk of Oturi, first of her name, Empress of the Empire, protector of the Realm, Divine Daughter, the bridge between Heaven and Earth, and she who defeated the evil of the Ninth when the world was at its darkest. To my daughter, Yuahime, I have come to see that our lineage will bestbe served with you as my successor. Your time on the warrior’s journey has come to an end, I am sure that Ikeda-sensei will agree with me that the realm needs you now more than ever.”

He continued, “Thus I name you my heir, and you shall be Oturi II, your brothers will serve you in the House of Otomo, and your servants will serve you with Duty and Honor. I am proud of the woman you have become, and I am certain you will make our ancestors proud. You are thus commanded to retake your title, claims, and duties from this day until your last.”

“These are the words of Empress Oturi, this is my will, and final testament.”

After the words are delivered the Miya bowed deeply into a kowtow.

[Hida Fuboshi]

Fuboshi blinked her one good eye and then quickly fell into a deep bow, well this was going to make things interesting.

[Kakita Masao]

"A man of honor, and his son will surely be his equal in time," he said positively.

"I am honored to speak with you, my boy."

Masao bows his head respectfully at the compliment. "Otomo-sama, surely the honor is mine. When one speaks of a man of honor, and dedicated servant of the empire, the name of Otomo Yusuke cannot be far from one's mind. And indeed, our whole reason for being here is a testament to Otomo-sama's good service. On behalf of my honoured father and our family, I bear thanks for your work to arrange this marriage and bring peace where it has not been known for too long." Another bow, and a smile of genuine thanks. You see? You can do this. This is why your father wanted you here. To be this kind of warrior.

Edit: At the murmur around the additional news from the Empress, Masao turns and behaves appropriately.

[Otomo Yusuke]

Yusuke would have to recalculate his future and quickly. He has an idea of how to do that, but it would require a deadly dance of words and actions. For now he kowtowed as the others did.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

This woman was a ronin he had not seen before... But the heiress at a musha shugyō? He felt immediately at the deepest of bows, touching his head on the ground like heimin did.

"May we, the Fortunes, Tengoku and Yomi all be testimonies."

[Fuzake Hifumi]

As the expected news came, Hifumi knelt in honor of the heir.

[Otomo Saisei]

"I will try, Kakita sama." Her tone was quite serious.

She looked again to Saisei. "Otomo sama, now that news have been delivered, will you please allow me to take you back to bed." She shook her head. "Don't make me call Kuma to persuade you."

Before the announce was made, Saisei opens a smile to Hanatsuko and allows her to guide him out of the courtroom.

It is only a few steps outside of the court that he notices the commotion around the pretty ronin and now heir to the Empire.

Saisei keeps on his path towards the inn.

/exit

[Oturi Yuahime]

Yuahime was both shocked and not shocked glancing over to the Monkey and then gestured and said, “Rise, Miya herald… please, everyone rise.”

Now she had to act the part. She was not prepared for something that she should have been prepared for, given what she knew.

[Fuzake Hifumi]

Rising, Hifumi turned her eyes to the crowd, watching the reactions of those present.