Kyuden Shika

"Perhaps she will marry early. I am less than a year out of my gempukku and I am at a Miai."

Oh yes get her married to another kid who doesn't know what the hell they're doing, great idea.

He poured drinks again.

"Sounds like the perfect fix."

He turned and looked at his companion seriously and spoke with experience despite his age. "If life with your family is that bad, if it is anything at all like mine, then an getting out of that environment is the best thing that can happen to her or you." he turned back to his food and attempted a joke. "My younger brother, the one I like, will come of age soon."

He shook his head. "No, nothing bad, just the problems that come with running things", he said. "She may indeed resent it, which is..."

Well, the worst outcome I can think of.

"My apologies, I don't know your troubles and it is not my place to ask but I am willing to listen if you wish to talk; as you have done for me."

"It's not presumptive, you were polite enough", he said and sipped. "She's just young, and making tough decisions as a head of household isn't easy, and worse if she marries someone gross, or as young as her, or altogether undeserving of her so I might have to do something about it..."

Dead eyes stared into the nothingness and he sipped.

Curiosity and compassion got the best of Soyokaze and he had to ask. "Why will you not be the head of your house?"

"Hmm? if I marry out", he said. "Can't expect to be the head of household in someone else's clan unless they defer to you somehow, and that's pretty rare."

Soyokaze sighed and decided to let it be. "Life on a river boat sounds rather pleasant."

"Might be the case", he allowed. "I've heard it's nice."

the scorpion refilled his cup and nudged Soyokaze's. "Don't let me drown alone here."