D0MA, Patrol (Open)

[Kitsu Murato]

"That there are at least a few religiously inclined subjects that I can dive deeper into here."

He smiles at that. Half of the female participants he had met so far were Shugenja. He may not be one himself, but he did carry the blood that made it more likely for his children in the future.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"My study is a difficult one to like", he said. After all, people were often disappointing. "Though what I've learned?" He shrugged. "You can go a long way with kindness and honesty, but never to the goal", he said. "The world is too wicked for that."

[Shika Nesshin]

Who hurt you? Nesshin wonders, but he does not say it.

"I will hope," he does say, "you find such a goal, even so. And that we all do."

[Kitsu Murato]

"That's a bit overdramatic," Murato says with a chuckle. "Plus, going into a miai with the belief that you can't reach the goal of it without straying from kindness and honesty is a difficult place to start from."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"Is it?" He shrugged. "There are romances for the ages, but the stories tell us these passionate lovers don't end up together, they're too honorable to shame themselves and chase what they want."

[Shika Nesshin]

"And when they are invited to pursue their wants?"

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"Someone likely forced it that way, either one of them, or a friend, or their lords, to give them what they wanted", he answered. "And even if not, what of the rivals, who have now been cruelly denied?" He chuckled. "Humans walk a path and crush ants while they merrily speak, lovers find each other and wound another just with their happiness. We tell lies to save face and keep each other kind. This is society, and we are in one of its most exemplified rituals."

He chuckled slightly, "but don't misunderstand, I think kindness and honesty are fine things, and I'd be happy seeing them win the day, but greed, jealousy, desire, they prove to be stronger far too often."

[Shika Nesshin]

"Hm," Nesshin grunts thoughtfully. "Something on which to think."

His tone is not dismissive, just pensive. Which makes sense, given the context.

[Kitsu Murato]

"Some of us prefer honesty to our own detriment. And I say that anyone that takes issue or offense at someone else's love is the one that has a problem, not the ones in love. I don't get upset when a fish slips my line. I just wish the fish good luck and cast again."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"Well there are those who show honesty to their own detriment, but when that honesty is the violence they harbor toward another, what does it mean?" he asked. "For yourself, I know what you say, and what you mean. We re all people though, and everyone is different. One might be able to show great honesty, compassion and sincerity, keep their violence restrained, walk a narrow path...but that is not what their fellows will do, not what their enemies will do. Living a life of virtue is commendable, but only because people are what they are, and that is greedy, insincere, fearful and willing to stab one another in the back for gain." He shrugged. "If this were not true, why was there a need to write the rules of Bushido?"