Day 0, Mid-afternoon: Hot Lunch (Open)

[Daidoji Kaneko]

*snip*

"But I prattle on so! Tell me, Daidoji-san, have you any plans for the proceedings?"

She tilted her head ever so slightly at the question and replied, "To enjoy the hospitality of our guests and see if there is not occasion for greater cooperation beyond this week for us and the Crab. It would be a truly auspicious occasion if the goodwill between our families can continue to crescendo in the years ahead."

She smiled, "There are many things which the Crab do and possess which gathers far too little renown in the Empire. The Fire Shrimp taken from the village near where the proceedings will take place are quite well known in the ports of my home... Creating opportunities for more of the wonderful bounties present in the Crab provinces to make it up to our shores will certainly help bring greater exchange for us and our neighbors."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

snip

snip

Yuuwaku takes another sip of her tea as Kaneko replies, nodding to the other's words.

"I've heard of the shrimp, though I've not yet been able to sample any," Yuuwaku replies. Hearing the Hiruma and seeing his smile, she offers one in return and adds "It would be good to have closer relations with our neighbors, of course. And I must wonder, too, if Hiruma-maehashira is familiar with our destination. It is always good to hear about a place from one who has been to it.

"And, of course, any news from Karada would be just lovely to hear!"

[Daidoji Yushoko]

Thankful for others to be there, the woman could smile and sip her tea quietly. It was like most parties find the largest group and then sit quietly and smile, one could disappear in plain sight with this method.

[Hiruma Ōguri]

"A bit. I've been to a tournament in the area. I can confirm what Daidoji-sama says, seafood in these parts is top-notch!" The Crab replied with vigour, though after some polite sips of the Purple Needle that place where the food met the plate, it called him.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Oh? And how was your match?"

Though I would imagine sumai wrestlers do know food, she thinks.

[Hiruma Ōguri]

"I won! I win most bouts these days. From registration to maehashira in a year!" Ōguri grinned without false humility.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods approvingly and gives the man time to dig in.

She also glances to Yushoko, raises an eyebrow just a bit in a inquiry if all is well.

And then she smiles, taking in the room again, seeing if any seem to need talk.

[Daidoji Yushoko]

She smiled at her clan mate and said softly, "You are certainly a name to watch for, Hiruma-san. I wish you much success in your future."

[Hiruma Ōguri]

"Once rocks roll into valleys." Ōguri looked at Yushoko and replied somewhat cryptically, but he had to. He needed to know for sure that...

Snowdrop and primrose
Sprang by my feet as I walked
In geta through thaw
For naught so gentle my steps
Once rocks roll into valleys

Then he bowed in thanks for kind words.

[Daidoji Yushoko]

"That seems a precarious situation. Best to keep your steps gentle, Hiruma-san," she said kindly.

[Hiruma Ōguri]

"Unless I am the rolling rock, haha!" He grinned, hiding confusion behind joviality. Either way, it wasn't a big deal, now was it? Surely not. "Sumai is not about gentle steps by most measures, but perhaps that can be my new winning move!"

[Daidoji Yushoko]

“Then please educate us on the ways of the sumai, given your expertise,” she said warmly, finally taking up her chopsticks. She ate slowly and with graceful precision, taking great care to not ruin her many layered kimono in stark contrast to her niece slurping down some noodles and laughing at the sound.

[Hiruma Ōguri]

"That would work better with a demonstration than in theoretical explanations, and is bound to happen as there's going to be sumai contest for the wedding's celebration, to which I non-accidentally am also travelling!" He chuckled. "But there's a point in getting you mentally prepared for the event so that you can become instant fans!" He found it hard to believe that sumai wasn't well known enough among the Crane. It was an Imperially recognised sport after all! "So, let's go quickly through the basics..." And a relatively succinct, colourful and humorous account of Sumai 101 followed.

[Daidoji Yushoko]

The Crane bride to be listened and then responded, "Thank you, I feel ready to take the ring myself after such an instruction."

She produced her fan to protect her slight smile from view.

[Daidoji Kio]

"... I think there are probably some of us who are trying to fall up," he mused.

He looked toward the Crab who she would apparently be dueling. "I don't suppose I could join the fighting queue? Sparring with someone with such a completely different style sounds interesting."

"Are you prepared to give your life in the art of the staring duel?" the child responded.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku, whose player has been away and will be sporadic over the weekend, follows the conversations as she eats her own meal--perhaps without quite the grace of Yushoko, but then, the older Daidoji does have more practice.

And it is good to see such amity here, she thinks. This is how it should be.

[Togashi Keigo]

"Are you prepared to give your life in the art of the staring duel?" the child responded.

Keigo looked at Kio with a Very Serious Expression. Then he paused and said, "I am, at least, prepared to afflict myself with very severe dry eye."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku's attention turns to the child and the Dragon, looking between them. Her eyes stay on the Togashi a bit longer than on Kio, and she puts in "There are many stories of strange powers accruing to the tattooed Togashi. Is one of them the ability to stare unblinking?"

Her own eyes are very wide as she regards Keigo.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru watched the conversation between the Kakita, Daidoji and Togashi, interested in the Togashi's answer.

While he believed that most likely it would simply be discipline, meditation and hard work which would allow the Togashi to outstare most people, but his knowledge on the tattooed dragons was... lacking, to be polite.

[Togashi Keigo]

Keigo chuckled lightly. "It's just a matter of learning to ignore discomfort. If someone has a more mystic ability to never blink, that would be a new one on me. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course. The path one walks among us is very individual." He shrugged lightly, giving the impression of the waves of the tattoo on one shoulder rolling.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"And what has yours been?" Yuuwaku asks, her eyes lingering a bit on the rolling wave.

How does it do that?

[Togashi Keigo]

It goes still when he stops moving. "Studying the balance of the elements and the interplay of nature and how those can show the path to balance for humans." He glanced over to give Yuuwaku a light smile.

[Daidoji Kio]

"But can you use the tattoos to beat people up?" Kio asked.

[Togashi Keigo]

He nodded, returning his gaze to Kio. "I prefer not to beat people up, but they can be useful for it."

[Daidoji Kio]

He nodded, returning his gaze to Kio. "I prefer not to beat people up, but they can be useful for it."

"Why not, if you beat them up then they have to do what you say," she responded.