D2ME, Shopping! (Expecting)

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He chuckles. "Of course. Need to meet someone fine first. Have you seen anyone nice? On all my preferences, not Scorpions. Definitively not."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Well, I can understand how you feel that way, of course!" Yuuwaku looks away, looking at the dwindling crowds for a bit.

"There have been a few people I've enjoyed meeting so far, yes," she says, a lilt in her voice, "and I hope to meet more than a few more."

She sighs. "So many people seem to have in interest in dancing, too!"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods gracefully as he usually does. "Oh, this is nice. I have found that people like more my singing. I think it is because it also works as something casual. It would be strange indeed to suddenly begin to give speeches around."
He looks around. "I think I should have said something at the dinner."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"There was...a lot going on at the dinner," Yuuwaku notes. "Unless you mean to work our ways there? But I think that might have gone poorly; some seemed quite willful in their displeasure."

There are limits to what even our techniques can do, she thinks.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I didn't do so because few seemed to relate to my earliest speech, although there was a much more formal setting." He takes a deep breath. "Yeah, perhaps it would have been before the lord ordered a wine gift to be given to the heimin."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Well, keeping the workers happy does help," Yuuwaku remarks, trying to put a pleasant face on the event--which was decidedly not so.

She's not making it easy to make this successful.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods. "But making your guests unhappy does not." And then draws a sigh. "Have you spoken with her or the heir yet? I have only talked to her boys."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I had the chance to speak with Hida Kitsuchi, yes. She came calling yesterday afternoon, joining me in the baths at our accommodations.

"She is...a formidable woman."

Yuuwaku considers. "I've spoken also with Hida Daichi, though not with our to-be-cousin."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Oh, interesting. How is she like? What causes on her the best first impression? Did everything run alright?" He rushes in some questions, essential to the Crane.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Oddly, she came to ask for the help of the Crane in today's procession. Rather than her brothers and Clan-mates."

Yuuwaku nods. "I am glad that it went well today. Helping the local lord cannot have hurt us."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods. "I know not what this means, but I do know it is good she reaches us for help. Maybe she was trying to integrate us into her customs like kin?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Along with a bit of seemingly good-natured hazing, yes."

Yuuwaku nods to affirm her agreement.

"But it seemed to her particularly important that she do well in the festival. And I think I may know why."

She snaps her fan out to hide her lips--indeed, most of her face--leans in, and whispers "She didn't have the marks on her that show her to have been a mother."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Oh, how convenient then she would have been so worried about this festival. I was not here to see it, but I heard that we did it well and gave her a blessing, or something like that. Do you think this will make the situation better?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Still behind the fan, Yuuwaku replies:

"It is to be hoped. And the need for it might account for some of what we've seen from higher up, as well.

"You wouldn't happen to know if there's been any word about how Daidoji-sama's children would be trained, would you?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods his head from one side to the other. "No... Although they might be one of those Daidoji sent to the Wall? Why do you ask?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku continues behind the fan.

"It seems to me that Hida Fuboshi is concerned about her line continuing. Daidoji-sama's children will be of a different legacy, by name, but f one were to train among the Crab Clan, it might do well to maintain harmonious relations here. The long view, as it were."

She lowers the fan. "Daidoji Kaneko might have more information on that, unless we want to ask the bride-to-be herself."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods. "This arrangement is theirs to make, and this we cannot predict, although surely we could give our suggestions to the bride-to-be? She was trained not on the Daidoji from what I know, it should not be hard to convince."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"She is senior to both of us in the School, Sana-kun! Some of her work was on display in the foyer, in fact!"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"It was?" He got drawn back on surprise. "I mean, I knew she was on the Academy, but never heard anything about her before all of this."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods. "The impression I had was that she hoped her art would speak for itself. And I can appreciate that, very much so."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods. "Should we talk to Daidoji-sama about sending their firstborn to the Hida, though?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku shakes her head. "Not first, no. Second, though, is possible."