Kyuden Shika

"I'm afraid not, Taemon-san. When Lord Shunsuke discovered I could write, he rescinded my yoriki assignment and had my wings clipped. I am very much a songbird now." He smiled impishly. "Or very near to it, in any case. I have been sprung from my cage twice now, and it is not entirely unreasonable ...

"Taemon-san is..." he had been about to say 'a flatterer,' but somehow he doubted that insincerity was really part of Shiba Taemon's idiom. Instead, he said "very generous." "Part of the reason may be because I am largely self-taught, and I picked up performance by observation. You'd never guess it...

Taemon nodded.

"It is well crafted, but I think that recited by you makes it...something more than words upon a page." he offered.

Taemon nods. "That holds true in the lands of the Phoenix as well. I take it then that Hajime-sam has found his time in Kyuden Shika particularly dinspiring?" he asked. "To a degree. I think it would be difficult not to have an idea or two about the hopes, duties, and desires bouncing off one anoth...

"I am from Dawn's Light Castle in Northern Shinpi province. We're pretty mountainous for Kitsuki territory, because the whole han is perched on the mountainsides north of Last Step Castle. Dawn's Light is so called because it is the only one on the east side of a mountain. There are endless shrines...

"I am very pleased to hear that, Taemon-san," Hajime said as he sat by the Phoenix's side. "The Shika keep a fine garden, do they not? The varieties of plants they keep in the area are entirely different to the ones we have at home." He paused, curiosity taking hold. "Where do you come from, Taemon...

Hajime was happy with that, his eyebrows rising in blissful contentment. "Hai, Taemon-sama." He tasted the name in his mouth, and found it good. "I would like that very much. Will you sit with me?" He gestured to the bench. "I have very much been looking forward to sharing your company." "-san, is ...

Hajime turned to find Taemon squinting ahead. Myopic , his brain supplied, but He might marry you! , his heart was screaming, so a small smile appeared on his face instead. "Good afternoon, Shiba-sama!" He moved forward. I hope the day has found you well! Have you had rice?" Taemon often had a sour...

Taemon squinted at the form up ahead.

"Kitsuki-san?" he asked checking to see if the person ahead was the person he was looking for and not an elaborately sculpted bush like the one he had already had had a conversation with.

Taemon nodded.

"I'd like that." he said simply.