[D7, MM, closed] Early bird... is annoying

[Kakita Masao]

Though he'd been up for a while, Masao waited to come knocking at Yuuwaku's door until a more respectable hour. He felt sure she knew things that he should know. Maybe a lot of things. And she'd seemed excited that he... had feelings... for someone, so of course she'd want to help.

Finally, when it didn't seem rudely early any more, the gentle knock came at Yuuwaku's door. Stealthy soldier that he was, she'd probably not heard anything as he came down the hall. Grandson, you should not be so excited for this. Why? Kakita-san has been very nice to me. And she's Sanaharu's friend, so she might be sneaky, but she'll like showing off how smart she is.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku is dressed, of course, though her forehead jewel is not yet on, resting atop a cracked mirror on a chest to one side of the room, as she opens the door.

"Kakita-nikutai!" she says. "To what do I owe the honor this morning?" Her voice is bright and cheerful.

[Kakita Masao]

"Good morning, Kakita-san," he says, smiling and bowing. "I had hoped to follow up on our conversation yesterday. If it is not a bother to do so now? Or at least, sometime before tonight's event?" he asks, hopeful.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Oh, no; I am happy to talk now!" Yuuwaku says. "Have you eaten? I am, of course, happy to have some sent up, if you've not."

[Kakita Masao]

"Oh, I guess I haven't." He smiles a little foolishly, knowing that would have been a smart way to pass some time this morning.

"Yes, absolutely we should eat. I'm sorry, I guess I was so anxious to speak..." He realizes he needs to organize his thoughts. "Ahem. Thank you. Breakfast sounds wise. And I appreciate Kakita-san's time and care." He bows his head as he smiles at his recovery.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Excellent!" Yuuwaku says, and sends a servant for food.

"Now, Kakita-nikutai, talk to me! How can I help?"

[Kakita Masao]

The courageous soldier, now with the opportunity he so desperately wanted, realizes he's not really sure how to broach what he really wants to know.

He shrugs in a way that suggests stepping inside, but if it's not welcome he still starts, more quietly in that case, with the simplest thing.

"Well, as I said yesterday, I have, um, found someone whose company I enjoy. Very much. And, ah, as you probably gathered, it's Toritaka Hanatsuko-san..." He looks the tiniest bit dreamy just saying her name.

"Um, so you seemed kind of excited for me, so I wanted to see... If there's anything else you could share. About her. Or us."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Please, come in, sit, and we'll talk," Yuuwaku says.

"So, yes, it's clear you fancy her. And I think she may well you, which I can understand; Kakita-nikutai is a well-built man and skilled, and a woman can do far worse than that.

"Which reminds me, she'll be bringing her falcon, Kuma, by tomorrow to dance. It should be interesting, and it would be the better were you there, too."

[Kakita Masao]

"Oh, of course. Happily so," he says regarding the invitation. Regarding the rest, he looks a tad embarrassed.

"So, um, I kinda... know... that she fancies me." He looks sheepish, but she can see some pride underneath. "I'm, um, just not sure what to... do... knowing what I know."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Well, what do you want to do, Kakita-nikutai?" she asks, perhaps unhelpfully. "That's the place to start, at least."

[Kakita Masao]

"Right. I... I mean, I want to marry her. But that's... complicated. Obviously." He doesn't remind her of all the details, but she can see the angst on his face that only appears for this specific topic.

"I'm... So..." He looks incredibly uncertain. "See, I don't... know... what girls like. I mean, I want to... give her something. Or do something. And I just... I don't know what to do with how I feel." It's a frustrated admission, and the soldier looks down at the table in silence after he says it.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

(I think your post got eaten, Masao.)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Well," Yuuwaku says, "you've made sure you both know how you both feel, yes? That's the first part, and the most important.

After that, you say you want to marry her? Or is it that you want to be with her? Because, Kakita-nikutai, as the stories tell us in abundance, the two are not the same thing--sometimes far from it." She nods, affirming the point.

"I think I remember the bushi talking about knowing the objective before planning the strategy."

(Edited following updated post.)

[Kakita Masao]

"Hai, Kakita-san, we have been..." He swallows nervously, realizing that he has probably spoken improperly. PROBABLY?

"We have been very clear about our feelings. I... If I knew it were in my power, we would speak of marriage terms without delay. But I do not know what my father plans for me. We..."

Frustration creeps past Masao's on again. "I cannot give her..." He makes a scoffing sound at himself. Then there's a pause, and a huff. "Kakita-san, I am so sorry. I spoil your morning only to burden you with my foolish ravings." The soldier's head falls into his hands, elbows on the table, and there he sits in silence.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Kakita-nikutai," she says, "it is not a burden. For one, I asked you; I can hardly fault you that you give me an answer. For another, you are among those who defend us; I cannot lift a sword, but I can help ease you otherwise."

She pauses for a moment.

"It is one of the things at the root of the Artisan curriculum, although not all sensei teach it. Art helps us be, and the artist has to do the same."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's hands come down to reveal his eyes closed tightly. Grandson, will you stop this? Wait, you want to ask... Oh this should be good. As he shakes his head, a faint chuckle echoes inside his head.

"I... I'm sorry, Kakita-san. I don't understand. Do you mean... Is there something you can teach me? To make Toritaka-san happy? Or, at least... make her feel better?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"There are a lot of things I can teach," Yuuwaku replies, "and some would likely help her feel very much better, yes. But your concern, if I understand you aright, is that you cannot promise to marry her, despite how you feel for one another.

"Have I the right of it? Or is it another concern you have?"

[Kakita Masao]

"Yes, that's right," he says enthusiastically. "I want to make that promise. It feels right. And everything we've done so far has felt right, so now I feel... stuck." He clearly isn't thinking about the less-innocent way his words could be taken.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I have no doubt, Kakita-nikutai," Yuuwaku replies, "that Toritaka-san understands how you feel and what you want to do but cannot yet."

Her eyes widen suddenly. "A token, though, might not be taken amiss. Even if--no, never mind that. Some tangible thing to give to her, something she can take with her, that might go far."

Yuuwaku recalls a similar conversation with her brother. Why are so many Crane men so hesitant? she thinks.

[Kakita Masao]

"Right. Yes, that would be wise. I struggle with... I am no artisan, like you or Asahina-san. Making something of note, or..."

A look comes over Masao, as though he's seeing pieces fit together in a way he should have seen all along.

"Kakita Yuuwaku-san, you're brilliant. I need to learn the song, and I need to try to write one of my own. It is..." He seems so excited his words can't keep up with his mind. "She told me. The song she loves. I said I would learn it, but the future... My worry distracted me. I must learn it. And maybe... Well, perhaps there won't be time, but I should try to write." He seems scattered, but certainly happy where he had seemed despondent.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Asahina-san is better with music than I--far better, in fact, as I am not trained to it," Yuuwaku says. "But I am certainly happy to hear it from you, if you can play it--or is it sung?"