Kyuden Shika

Yeah Oubaihime is a tough hill to climb full of lions and birds.

"I've heard Moshi-san's performance, she was good, and her family has an excellent reputation. A fine choice", he seemed to honestly admire what little he knew about the centipede.

"Though it sounds like you have little opinion other than your match be pious?" He saw that, aside good looks, as the joining factor of the two.

He shook his head. "No, I simply enjoyed our conversations. Although, I suppose their spiritual knowledge would help with the issue Bayushi-sama had. They would likely understand that I am not cursed."

"Cursed?" he asked, tilting his head. "Some believe you have earned the ire of a fortune?"

"There have been a number of unfortunate events in my life." he nodded. "Deaths, actually. My family, friends, a mentor and my betrothed. As you can imagine, that leads to a number of assumptions."

Discussing it didn't seem to bother him, other than a hint of sadness in regard to those he had lost.

"I don't mean to sound..." he stopped, well no matter how he said it, it would sound that way. "Overly superstitious.." See: Normal for a Scorpion. "But...that does indeed sound like a curse."

And it it isn't, what in jigoku have I got?

"I fully understand that conclusion and I don't hold that belief against anyone, but there is no other indication of a curse." he shrugged. "The only common elements are a connection with me and my absence when they each passed. No spiritual investigation has found anything."

"Interesting..." Is he lying? I would lie. Still, he seemed to think the Kitsuki's near dismissive attitude toward it gave the words some weight. "Well, that being the case, how would you like to continue this conversation over another game?"

"Absolutely. White or black?"

"My luck seems to be going second", says the Scorpion. "So we'll try that."

something-something-low-honor-clan-always-goes-second.

He hands the pieces out again.

"And I can see you study a manner of strategy, what else do they teach aside love and relationships at the Kitsuki dojo?" he asked.

"One of the fundamental aspects of the Dragon is that we each find our own path." he said as he placed the first stone. "As such, Kitsuki training encompasses a wide variety of skills. The courts. The law. The sword. Mysteries and puzzles. Those last two are generally incorporated into the other studies, but I prefer to focus on them directly."