Kyuden Shika

Nesshin keeps his appointments, as duty allows. And it allows today, for now, at least.

Hajime's arrival is backlit by the light streaming through the Tea House's open door, throwing him into silhouette and highlighting the willowy nature of his frame. There was a moment for him to slowly scan the room, then he moved to join Nesshin.

"Good morning, Shika-san," he said quietly. "I have been looking forward to this."

Nesshin rises to bow. "I'm happy to oblige!" he says with bonhomie. "Please, join me; there's no way to be civilized on empty bellies, after all!"

He waves over Koi, places his order for "A draught of Hitomi once again--she's got such a flavor!--and some breakfast. And for Kitsuki-san, here, a...?"

"I will have the same, I think. Shika-san has been very complimentary, and I must try it for myself." He bobbed his head to both parties.

As the order begins to be fetched, Nesshin says "I trust you had a good night of it, then? Anything of particular interest?"

He takes his seat, gestures for the Kitsuki to do the same.

"I had a very pleasant stroll with Kitsu Murato, who had the courtesy to inform me that I would make a good second choice. And I thought, well, there are worse things to be." He smiled. "I imagine that is likely where I will fall for most men, being deficient in childbearing apparatus and of such low station, but Kitsu-sama has asked me to share a meal with him this evening, so that makes a much firmer bite than any I have had so far."

He looked up at Nesshin. "I wonder if your prospects are looking much better?"

"They might be," Nesshin allows. "And I hope that what you find makes you happy; it's been some time since I was with other men, but I remember enjoying it, coming and going.

"Certainly, I've been enjoying the miai so far. There are so very many interesting people, and several have been quite giving."

"I wondered if your luck would turn. I hope it is not rude to ask, but you were not over-damaged by that poison pen letter?"

"What letter?" Nesshin asks, having not seen it. He leans forward, eyebrow raised questioningly.

Hajime frowned. "You did not see it? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but...someone wrote a nasty little prose letter, accusing you of being insincere in matters of love, and how they were not interested in you anymore because of this. It was unsigned, presumably to protect the writer from the approbation of being so uncouth in these matters."

He shrugged. "But if you were unaware of it, certainly it must not have achieved its intended effect, and all is well."