Kyuden Shika

Once again, as soon as the servants clean the bathing area, a small bathtub is set on top of the main pool. The young Seppun douses himself with water and then carefully remove sandals –– avoiding touching in any soil –– to enter the steaming hot tub. Rain, though continues to fall over his head.

Mitsuki needed to be at her very best for the busy end of the day awaiting her, and so decided to go refresh her body and soul. The bathhouse was offering both services. After dealt with the former by properly washing herself with a bucket of cold water, she was now entering the hot bath to take care of the later.

She bowed her head in direction of the figure in a personal tube:

"Samurai-sama. Hope the day find you well."

He nods from his position of privilege as Mitsuki enters the baths and greets, "I hope Inari-kami has been kind."

"So far so good. The Deer matchmaker seemed unconvinced by my recitation, but nothing that cannot be fixed by redoubling my efforts on the next days. Though I'm not sure where there are going with all these trials really. I was more or less expecting a two-weeks negotiation during which we would be constantly talking about lineages, alliances, mutually profitable agreements... Not seemingly disjointed tests.

What about you..."

No mon in a bath.

"Samurai-sama? Are you even in town for the ongoing miai, or are you visiting for a wholly different reason?"

The boy narrows his eyes. They have met another day, he had all the mons. Quite difficult not to recognize him. In any chance, there was steam around, so he gives the benefit of the doubt and replies, "I am a participant in the miai. I recited a poem from Hantei Genji-shiryo-heika. Perhaps you might have heard me earlier."

Mitsuki racked her brain.

Oh yes, the kid! The one that ate too much soup.

The imperial one.

"Indeed Seppun-sama. Now that my eyes have adapted to the fog, I recognize you.

A fitting choice indeed. I'm surprised so few people have gone with the great classics actually. Maybe trying to get extra points with the Deer for originality? It's hard to guess what they expect of these events."

“I would trust my lineage to show what is best. Even though I wasn’t skilled enough to demonstrate it the correct way. A good lesson.” He says while looking towards her, still waiting for a proper introduction before he could proceed.

"Wouldn't you have to be the firstborn son of a god to render that poem as it was originally intended? Though I agree it's our sacred duty as mortals to try to approach that perfection that we will never reach.

Even my ancestor and namesake Moto Sarangerel – that's one is Moto Mitsuki, of the ten thousand blades of the Khan, by the way – also known as the Avatar of Victory, eventually died in combat after one hundred and eight consecutive triumphs, exactly as she had been foretold by the seers. She always struck for the best until the very end regardless."

Yuzu nods as she begins her mention about Genji, but does cringe –– internally, at least –– as she mentions her gaijin knowledge and origins. He says, "I see. Eto. It is an honorable thing to be thoughtful of those that preceded us. I commend Moto-san for that, as well as her option of name."

His facial expression softens, as he translates his thoughts, "To gaze upon Lord Moon and find beauty. That is something I enjoy doing."

Mitsuki's brain did its best, but didn't find any good praise about citrus to say in response. So she stayed on the lunar subject.

"Do you keep all you've learned from contemplation in the secret of your heart, or do you share it with the world as art? Maybe you compose poetry yourself?"