D6MA, Yeah, I Oughta Eat (open)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku raises no objection, but bows to Sanaharu and gives him a slight smile.

Then, given that she can do it now, she eats a bit more. It is better hotter, but still good.

[Kakita Masao]

"--someone."

A nod of understanding from the dreaded one.

The soldier looks wary. Or confused. The look of 'intensely curious' combined with 'trying desperately to formulate a question that gets desired information without revealing actual level of interest.' Oh. By. The. Fortunes. Just ask, you fool. You're hardly as subtle as you think.

In the arrival of the Asahina, Masao's first thought is to dismiss him, but he realizes-- "Yes, Asahina-san, welcome indeed. We were just discussing a friend who it appears we've all met, Toritaka Hanatsuko-san, and I believe you've made her acquaintance as well. Perhaps you could share your thoughts?"

As subtle, grandson, as your dai tsuchi.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Thank you." He takes a seat of his own, bowing deeply again, Yuuwaku's smile not gone unnoticed. "I have been able to deal with the adversities since our last meeting, Kakita-bugyo."

"I would be the most honored if Toritaka-san was to call me a friend, Masao-ue. I have aided her in the investigation of the curse, but also spent the remembrance festival, as well as this morning, on her company. She was always polite, never acted dishonorably, and her company was pleasant. A good Falcon." He replies.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Swallowing a mouthful of food, Yuuwaku nods.

"She seemed to me as if she would be an excellent companion, as well," she adds, once her mouth is clear. "And falconry is an honorable, admirable practice."

[Kakita Masao]

The nikutai smiles at the nice things being said, and happily agrees. "Hai, and quite talented with the flute as well."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku almost chokes as she sips her tea.

Coughing, she manages to get out "Apologies...don't mind...me. Just...swallowed badly."

Her face reddens.

[Kakita Masao]

Yuuwaku almost chokes as she sips her tea.

Coughing, she manages to get out "Apologies...don't mind...me. Just...swallowed badly."

Her face reddens.

Masao looks at Yuuwaku curiously, then remembers why he'd choked on his tea. Oh. She knows something. I should definitely speak with her privately. Inside his head are sputtering sounds of exasperation that he doesn't understand.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He was not eating yet, which left his reaction easy to contain behind a slight smile that flashed for a moment. "Have you brought said flute with you, Masao-ue? You usually do."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku continues to cough, hanging her head as her shoulders shake.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

He was not eating yet, which left his reaction easy to contain behind a slight smile that flashed for a moment. "Have you brought said flute with you, Masao-ue? You usually do."

"When we were investigating the docks, he played with it for the children. It gave me time to address the adults about safety. How did that go by the way, Kakita-nikutai?"

[Kakita Masao]

Masao becomes concerned about Yuuwaku, but he absent mindedly responds to the Asahina:

"I have, Asahina-san. You are correct, I suppose, that I try to be ready in case there's an opportunity to play."

"Kakita-san, are you all right?" He's genuinely worried.

"Oh," he says, back to Sanaharu. "But Toritaka-san has a flute of her own, if that's what you were asking."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He looks to Yuuwaku. He was trying to save his face hard, but Konohamaru... And Masao again... He yawns to cover his mouth widening in a smile uncommon, drawing his fan and ordering a passerby servant to bring a cup of water for her. When Masao adds the part about her own flute, he covers his face with the fan.

"Let's go outside, Yuuwaku-senpai, under the roof." He gets up from his chair with a slight smile. "You need some air."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

She manages to get the coughing stopped. Her face remains red as she replies "Oh, no, no. I'm fine. Just swallowed badly, is all."

But she takes the served cup and drinks it down.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Could you show us a gentle melody, Masao-ue, if that is your wish?" He asked, sitting back, trying to bring things in the literal sense for once. Although his mind flooded with flute jokes, he needed to keep up his face.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Despite appearances, the table's senior was not unaware of the occurrences, but had been relying on them.

Alas, his plan had not gone to fruition - not that he would let it show. With a short cough to return attention to himself, he bought business back to the table.

" I would like us to try and coordinate our last few days here. The Empress' eye is upon us, even if she chooses not to focus on us, and so the best impression possible would be advised. We do not need to speak to her, but she should hear good of us. I can speak to the others later, but I believe Kintaro-san has found his stride."

He thought on Sanaharu's request.

"We can wait, however, if Kakita-Nikutai wishes to play - this luncheon is young, after all."

[Kakita Masao]

The soldier looks at Sanaharu a little suspiciously. You see, grandmother, he's sly. I think he's up to something, but I don't know what. Grandmother? There's an uncommon silence in Masao's mind, which he takes as an opportunity to eat a bit. Then, being addressed, he swallows quickly...

"Oh, uh, Kakita-sama, Asahina-san, perhaps another time. My apologies, but I should better attend this tasty lunch." Another swallow. "Is there something specific this humble warrior is needed for in the coming days, Kakita-sama?"

----------''
(OOC: going afk for probably 2 hours)

[Kakita Konohamaru]

What did they need to do?

A new Empress was named - one who, just three days prior, was demanded dead by name. And whoever did this knew who she was, calling for her by name. Was it Yusuke? Ijihime? Someone else? The sword had been found, but it was the hand that was missing.
As such, as much as he'd hate to say it, she could be dead within days.

And then what?

Jigoku's shadow itself covered Kono's face. With a motion and a whisper, the room was emptied of staff leaving only the Crane samurai present. After ensuring the proper distance was maintained by the servants themselves, he began.

"None of this leaves the room."

There was no room to argue in his voice.

"We may be about to stand witness to another sweeping change in the Empire. If there is any time, as Lady Doji said, to be concerned with good actions, it is now."
"And with the eye of the Empress upon us, we will be the example that she tells her what to think of us. We must emphasize our best traits - compassion, courtesy, and amicability. In addition, I hope - I hope we can remain safe."

A sip.

"Perhaps I am jaded. Perhaps I am paranoid. I also have experience with the woes of inheritance, as an outsider. The feeling that a storm is coming fills my bones, and we don't know which shelters will be safe."
He paused, letting his words sink in.

"You know what I suspect, and what I imply. In that regard, I..."
He thought to the good times the group had had. The festival of remembrance, the pepper festival, the talks they'd shared. Working with Yuma, explaining morality to Kio - had it been so long, since he could honestly say he saw Lady Doji's colour as kin?
He thought to the yoriki he had watched pass him by - young Haru, who got too close to the wrong smuggling ring. Naofumi, who was consumed by the pressures of raising a child alone.
If that was these people...
Dammit, he always attached too easily. It made it easier to justify the darkness his victims suffered when it was righteous vengeance.

"...I would rather you live to support the throne. But I will not demand or force a decision. Your honour must decide what is best."
"I will throw myself by the Empress' side, because it is my duty to die. This mask of mine is to burden other's hate so they can unite - eventually, it will be to banish me. But you..."

He turned to the group as a whole.

"...You were meant to live. To be the light that Rokugan gathers under to remain strong. Which Rokugan will need it remains to be seen."

At this point, Konohamaru didn't know when the demon's mask had taken his face. But he was grateful that they needn't see the truth underneath it.

"Outside of Imperial strife, I ask you cast aside your grudges and choose later to defeat your foes. Stay vigilant, stay sharp, be the thunder and-hmm. I-"

He turns to Sanahamaru.

"You understand what I mean, I hope. Could probably say it better, too."

With a deep breath, he opens the floor.

"Any questions?"

[Kakita Masao]

It's a lot for the nikutai, so recently absorbed in personal matters, to take in.

In the end, he just nods soberly. "I have always said my foremost duty here is the success of my cousin's wedding. No personal matter or other concern is higher than the safety of all guests, especially the child of heaven."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods. "And the Crane are, by tradition, the Left Hand of the Throne. Perhaps I can help us return to such a place, in my own small way."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"The seasons pass, the land changes. Our Empire, built in the space between Earth and Heaven, also does. This is the mark of a season's passage on Tengoku. Leaves can fall, or grow. Snow can fall, or met. Flowers can fall, or bloom. All it takes for Fortune to take its steps are our actions, shameful or honorable, good or bad — we can choose the words scholars will use when writing our history.

All scholars on the Empire are subject to Her Divine Grace. It is essential they will choose words of radiance, honor, and value, of friendship and spring. We must make it so, followers of Doji, as we are the Empress' first lenses on the Crane Clan. Our task proves for a fact that Fortune favors the mortal man — the shining example of Doji reflects on all her children. We are the first example of friendship, everyone's reference to good manners.

However, even spring has violent storms, summer has a scorching sun, autumn has cutting winds and winter has cutting snows. We must be prepared and aware of the dangers this change signifies. Situations divide perspective and shift us, Fortune has for each one of us a different destiny. There are those who will be against Her. The decisions we make when such a time calls are our choice, remember this well. Should the honorable Kakita-bugyo die at her side, we are to make a choice — die alongside him or live to support the throne.

But it is his duty to be scorched by all, not ours. His wish for us is to stay, strong, cunning and vigilant, but above all, always honorable. Set for now your differences aside and reunite with your allies divided. We can afford no discordance at the time present, for we are gathering to shield ourselves of a storm."

He didn't have any idea of what he was really talking about, but he was a man who would rather obey than question.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

A well done speech

It was good that he could rely on Sanaharu to be a voice in times of need. There were many times where his thoughts would be clipped by not knowing the right metaphor or allergy for it, which came naturally to Sanaharu.

"Yes, that."

There was no more he could say.

"Wait, hold on - one thing. Do not choose whether to follow me in death, but what the... I want to say... essence of the throne is, and support that."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao feels the power of the Asahina's words, nodding solemnly at times.

And then, as Kono clarifies, the nikutai becomes more confused, and concerned.

"Kakita-sama, if I may?" Receiving a slight nod, he commences to ask, "Do you... do you really expect that the empress' protectors may die for her here? I understand that there could be... fractures... over time. But so soon as here and now?" Masao's posture shows no slouch, no fear, he's ready to fight, but his eyes show that he doesn't understand the threat.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Kakita-sama, if I may?" Receiving a slight nod, he commences to ask, "Do you... do you really expect that the empress' protectors may die for her here? I understand that there could be... fractures... over time. But so soon as here and now?" Masao's posture shows no slouch, no fear, he's ready to fight, but his eyes show that he doesn't understand the threat.

"Fear, not expect."

Good, keep that posture - it may just save you yet.

"And yes."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

As he chewed on some rice, he reconsidered.

"No, expect is more right. Not know, but expect."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Kakita-bugyo, may we ask why is that? Or is it better for us to remain in the shadows?"