Kyuden Shika

"Well if my own feelings are anything like other peoples I don't think you have to ever have someone to fear losing them. But you probably don't know fear as much as I do. Time is running out Hikimaru-san, make your feelings known, if nothing else it will take that unspoken weight off of you. Don't worry about the response you will get to the declaration, just getting the words out there can be a relief and we are rapidly running out of time to find answers or seek others.

"I won't say you've the wrong of it", he admitted. "In fact I was considering things like that for today, but...", he made a face. His mask lowered to drink showed the annoyance. "I'm not aftaid so much, hmm...maybe I am, not maybe it's my expectations being so poor I'm almost afraid of a positive answer and then they say yes to someone else for reasons that have nothing to do with me."

"Well the other option is to eliminate her other suitors, scare them off. I'm sure that would better for you than it did for me but it risks you looking like an ass. SO let me ask you this, if not now when? What better time and place to let your truth out? If the worst happens it would be worse to do it after she is committed to another, or be stuck carrying those unspoken words with you forever."

He laughed. "You say that, but forget that to be a Scorpion is to carry those unsaid things forever."

He finsihed the round and the old man dropped spicy udon on front of them both.

"Thanks", he said and took his chopsticks out of his sleeve.

"Cold noodles was probably a good choice, I nearly lost my tongue trying to eat too quickly last night. Itadakmasu!" He pulled out his own chopsticks and dug in.

"Careful of the spice", he warned, slurping up his own.

"Spice doesn't bother me really, it's when someone uses too much garlic." He took another slurping bit. "A little is fine but too much always makes feel sick. I just want to find a good piece of eel while I'm here but I guess we are too far from the sea. Anything you will miss from your home if you move on to another clan?"

He didn't think so. Well, not so much from the clan itself... maybe the parties...

He finished some noodles.

"My sister."

He nodded sagely. "How old she, has she begun her training?"

"She'll be done next year", he replied and shook his head. "And if I do marry out I'll be leaving her with all my parent's problems."

He suddenly felt absolutely terrible about chasing something he wanted.