[D2, LM] The flute and the fish (expecting)

[Kakita Masao]

Masao returns to the house and heads immediately to his room for his flute, then to the sitting room for tea. Although his first thought is music, which so often helps him center and process things, he instead takes a few contemplative drinks of tea, looking at his flute in a way that suggests he expects it to speak to him.

[Daidoji Kaneko]

Kaneko walked into the sitting area and looked at the Kakita ogling his flute and nodded a greeting from a short distance away. "Your flute might get the wrong idea if you stare at her like that Kakita-san."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's reverie being interrupted so suddenly, he starts to choke on his latest sip of tea. After a short period of unpleasant coughing -- most unbecoming of a Crane, especially -- Masao finally regains his composure and voices, before fully thinking it through, "For that interruption, perhaps I will focus my attention on you..." And as he turns, and recognizes who was speaking, he adjusts.

"Ahem, Hiramichi-san. Please excuse my abrupt words." He stifles a last cough. "I meant, I would be honored if you would join me to enjoy this excellent tea."

[Daidoji Kaneko]

She smiled, “I think I prefer the initial response.”

She came and sat down, “What tea do we have today?”

[Kakita Masao]

The Kakita is surprised again -- thankfully, without tea in mouth this time -- and looks at Kaneko with critical eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he says, "Hiramichi-san may not know the risk she invites with my attention, and sadly, the flute is too tired to warn you."

Don't talk to a cousin like that! Vassal family or no. What does that even mean? Ugh.

He shakes his head for a moment. "As for the tea, it's just a light jasmine blend. Quite pleasant."

[Daidoji Kaneko]

“If only the flute hadn’t over-exerted herself I could be saved from my ignorance.” She replied in jest.

“Alas, I am left wondering whether you should be feared or desired.”

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's eyes grow slightly, as he realizes he's outmatched here and has no idea what to do next.

"Well," he says, voice more tentative than before. "I can assure you that the only place I need be feared is on a battlefield." The 'nonchalant' smile he gives her probably unintentionally recommends fearing him.

[Daidoji Kaneko]

She smiles ever so faintly at his reply. "It would seem that you are not familiar with the writings of the famous poet Doji Benetaru... She makes readily known in her work that the workings of love are very much a battlefield. Or perhaps you are aware... and are far more intriguing than you let your outward appearance show."

She reached down to the table and lifted the tea pot to refill his cup and one close to her with poise despite her disability. "I suppose I will settle for an ambiguous sense of trepidation for the time being. There is nothing wrong with a bit of ambiguity in human relations."

She placed the tea pot down and settled in to her seating posture. "Don't you agree Kakita-san?"

[Kakita Masao]

Oh, I like her. Reminding you of your place, grandson. Uh, I'm not sure that's... Oh, fine.

Masao smiles, but humbly admits, "Hiramichi-san, I am foremost just a soldier. I can see every place as a battlefield. But I also have a tactician's eye, and can see where the terrain may be unfavorable. On unfavorable terrain, a soldier must work harder to ... overcome their opponent."

He calmly takes another drink of tea.

[Daidoji Kaneko]

She smirked, "Why not find better terrain?"

[Kakita Masao]

Masao starts to answer the question, but stops himself and sets the tea cup down carefully.

"Honestly, Hiramichi-san," he says, with a mixture of pride and embarrassment, "Iron Warriors are stubborn, and we never want to abandon the mission, no matter how unfavorable the terrain. Defend the clan, win the drinking competition, whatever" -- he raises an eyebrow for emphasis -- "the mission may be, Iron Warriors find a way."

[Daidoji Kaneko]

She nodded, "I see. Well, may your determination be your boon and not your doom. Sometimes it is best to find terrain wherein you may be successful when otherwise you would fail in your duty. Those of my family... and the school you share with them... know that in order to protect the Crane we will do what we must. Even forego our pride and stubbornness if it means that the clan endures."

[Kakita Masao]

"Most assuredly, Hiramichi-san. There is no higher duty than protection of the clan. At the risk of sounding prideful, I am most honored that the Daidoji school has given me the skills to defend my cousins well. All my cousins," he says, with a gentle wave toward the rest of the house.

"I trust Hiramichi-san won't be needing any protection, though. You seem able to take care of yourself," he says honestly.

[Daidoji Kaneko]

"We all have our capacities... but not all capacities." She said warmly.

"I am comforted by the fact that someone of your training is present. While I may be able to conduct myself in social situations with relative... ease shall we say? While that may be the case, physical threats pose an entirely different set of dangers which I am uniquely ill-prepared to confront."

[Kakita Masao]

"Indeed, we all have specialized to best serve the clan. But if Hiramichi-san will forgive me saying, I don't believe anyone with such a sharp mind is ever ill-prepared for anything, no matter how unfavorable the terrain." It's a sincere observation.

"This one is very fortunate to be here, and honored to provide whatever comfort is needed," he says with a straight face. Grandson! What? Wait, I didn't mean... After the realization, he looks at the table and bites his lip to keep from making it worse.

[Daidoji Kaneko]

She smirked and prodded the man along his path of interesting word choice, “And what other comforts do you find yourself providing beyond your martial abilities?”

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's eyes stay firmly pointed at the table while his face flushes, as he has no idea what to say. I never thought that training as a soldier would represent a sheltered upbringing.

"Hiramichi-san, I'm sure that in ensuring the success of this wedding, and supporting all my cousins in the discharge of their duties, I would endeavor to provide whatever... comfort... might be required." He swallows hard. "Consistent, of course, with the preservation of my own honor as a dedicated servant of the Crane Clan. Of course, fellow honorable samurai like yourself would not ask anything unseemly of me, so I would be happy to be invited to assist you."

The line drawn, such as it could be, the Kakita looks to Kaneko with something resembling hope that he'd managed the situation. Avoiding a potential silence, he adds: "to respond more directly, I am pretty talented with the flute."