(D3, ME) Ex-Hida by Yasuki Seiryo

[Asahina Soyokaze]

Raizo sighed.

"Soyokaze-san. As I also said, everyone here is deemed an acceptable match by someone. That most definitely and emphatically includes you. And if you're fond of Kaito-san, you owe it to her, and to yourself, to let her know that it's a possibility you entertain."

He turned to stare at the Crane, his expression a curious mixture of stony and intense. His soldiers would have recognized it.

"So to begin with, don't think of anyone else here as naturally your superior when it comes to who can make a good husband for my clanmate. Especially since your instincts have not led you far astray on the subject of her insecurities."

He held his hand out, palm up- and then clenched it into a fist.

"She already thinks her appearance is lacking. She thinks herself plain. A little dun-colored fieldmouse. Fashion something to accentuate what you already appreciate about her and explain it when you give it to her."

A pause. He unclenched his fist.

"Even if you remain nothing more than friends, you will have done a kindness for someone whose whole life has been doing kindnesses for others. And you will have gotten practice in presenting yourself to someone you might want... more from. And she will never judge you harshly, Soyokaze-san."

Another sigh.

"My own... friend... is almost certainly being courted by others. I suspect a great deal of that is going on. And while I would hardly advise you to focus your attentions solely on Kaito-san, I would also never, ever suggest you don't at least let her know how you feel."

Soyokaze took another a breath, and another.

Not now you idiot, not here.

"What of the others I mentioned, others I haven't? You have not given me any bad advice so far and I intend to take this, but what of the rest? You claim to be bad at this but it seems that in just three days you have done and seen more here than I could ever hope to do, talked to more people than I do in a month normally. Is there anyone else I should be talking to?"

His words rung with a universal tone, the fear of commitment.

[Shiba Raizo]

Soyokaze took another a breath, and another.

Not now you idiot, not here.

"What of the others I mentioned, others I haven't? You have not given me any bad advice so far and I intend to take this, but what of the rest? You claim to be bad at this but it seems that in just three days you have done and seen more here than I could ever hope to do, talked to more people than I do in a month normally. Is there anyone else I should be talking to?"

His words rung with a universal tone, the fear of commitment.

"Sure. Moto-san can be a bit intense, but she'd also respond well to anything indicating you respect the culture of the Unicorn Clan. She's a long way from what she thinks of as home, as well. Usogawa-san is the daughter of a daimyo, but keen not to be treated as such, and she cares deeply for his kinsmen. I believe she also has a fondness for the arts in all of their forms. And if you think not talking is a problem, there's an Agasha here who will more than take care of that for you. And ply you with mushrooms in the bargain."

[Asahina Soyokaze]

"Sure. Moto-san can be a bit intense, but she'd also respond well to anything indicating you respect the culture of the Unicorn Clan. She's a long way from what she thinks of as home, as well. Usogawa-san is the daughter of a daimyo, but keen not to be treated as such, and she cares deeply for his kinsmen. I believe she also has a fondness for the arts in all of their forms. And if you think not talking is a problem, there's an Agasha here who will more than take care of that for you. And ply you with mushrooms in the bargain."

"Mushrooms?" Soyokaze shook the thought away. "A daimyo's daughter who doesn't want to be treated like one, that sounds complicated. Like when I met Seppun Unsei at the temple this morning. They asked me not to stop calling them -Sama, then gave me some mochi. How do you even respond to that?"

[Shiba Raizo]

"Mushrooms?" Soyokaze shook the thought away. "A daimyo's daughter who doesn't want to be treated like one, that sounds complicated. Like when I met Seppun Unsei at the temple this morning. They asked me not to stop calling them -Sama, then gave me some mochi. How do you even respond to that?"

"With Unsei? Just be their friend. I think they're... any more confident about being here than you or I. Besides. The mochi's tasty, right?"

[Asahina Soyokaze]

"With Unsei? Just be their friend. I think they're... any more confident about being here than you or I. Besides. The mochi's tasty, right?"

Soyokaze is slightly stunned by Raizo's familiarity with the Seppun but quickly recovers. "It was delicious, I have not had sweets in a very long time. I must find more and I must find a way to thank Unsei-sama. But they are an Imperial, certainly there is nothing I can offer them that would be worthy of them."

[Shiba Raizo]

Soyokaze is slightly stunned by Raizo's familiarity with the Seppun but quickly recovers. "It was delicious, I have not had sweets in a very long time. I must find more and I must find a way to thank Unsei-sama. But they are an Imperial, certainly there is nothing I can offer them that would be worthy of them."

"Your friendship would, I am sure, be appreciated. And they like fine things as much as anyone- being an Imperial they may not want for much, but a gift is as much about intent as substance, wouldn't you agree?"

[Asahina Soyokaze]

Soyokaze is slightly stunned by Raizo's familiarity with the Seppun but quickly recovers. "It was delicious, I have not had sweets in a very long time. I must find more and I must find a way to thank Unsei-sama. But they are an Imperial, certainly there is nothing I can offer them that would be worthy of them."

"Your friendship would, I am sure, be appreciated. And they like fine things as much as anyone- being an Imperial they may not want for much, but a gift is as much about intent as substance, wouldn't you agree?"

"True, true." Soyokaze pondered something for a moment. "What about a mirror, for Oubaihime-sama I mean. You say she thinks she is plain, clearly she doesn't see herself the way others do." He thought for another moment. "Or would that be rude?"

[Shiba Raizo]

"True, true." Soyokaze pondered something for a moment. "What about a mirror, for Oubaihime-sama I mean. You say she thinks she is plain, clearly she doesn't see herself the way others do." He thought for another moment. "Or would that be rude?"

Raizo snickered.

"I am absolutely the wrong guy to ask about rudeness, Soyokaze-san, but I think a fine mirror wouldn't be a terrible idea."

[Asahina Soyokaze]

"True, true." Soyokaze pondered something for a moment. "What about a mirror, for Oubaihime-sama I mean. You say she thinks she is plain, clearly she doesn't see herself the way others do." He thought for another moment. "Or would that be rude?"

Raizo snickered.

"I am absolutely the wrong guy to ask about rudeness, Soyokaze-san, but I think a fine mirror wouldn't be a terrible idea."

Soyokaze nods. "Raizo-san, you are a good man and wiser than you believe. You have been a great friend to me and we have only recently met, I am in your debt and if nothing else good comes of this Miai I hope we can remain so. I would love to exchange letter and learn of how your life blooms." Soyokaze offered a short but sincere bow to the Phoenix.

[Shiba Raizo]

Soyokaze nods. "Raizo-san, you are a good man and wiser than you believe. You have been a great friend to me and we have only recently met, I am in your debt and if nothing else good comes of this Miai I hope we can remain so. I would love to exchange letter and learn of how your life blooms." Soyokaze offered a short but sincere bow to the Phoenix.

Raizo raised the parcel containing the gift he'd commissioned, and bowed in return.

"Soyokaze-san, if you can put up with indifferent calligraphy scribbled on whatever paper is to hand, I think we will be able to correspond."