Kyuden Shika

"Do either of you know the first thing about sailing?"

"Nope! But I can walk on water."

"So there is nothing I can say or do?" He had to will himself not to cry, but he was getting better at it.

"Soyokaze, I'm... touched that you want us to go with you. Truly. But are the Unicorn going to throw open their family names for a pair of ronin on the say-so of some guy who just married in? Especially when one of them is a former Phoenix who walked away from his prior fealty for purely personal reasons? Think how my situation will look to some older type in any Clan. A spoiled child who broke his vows when he didn't get his way."

It was taking everything he had not to cry now. "Why? Why does it have to be this way? Why wasn't I good enough?"

"Allow me to repeat the words of wisdom from Tessho... deserve has nothing to do with it. I think you would have made Oubaihime a wonderful husband. I think you would have made a wonderful Phoenix. I think Aimi would have made a wonderful Phoenix. Those are all things I would say deserved to happen. But they didn't."

He gave the Crane a bit of a squeeze with the arm still draped around his shoulder.

"I think your father is both an idiot and a monster. I think the Deer are a clan I'll never be able to do anything but hate. And I think they'll continue to prosper despite any ideas of justice or fairness we might have. It has nothing to do with you not being good enough, and everything to do with the world being a generally shitty and unfair place. They like to leave that out of their plays and pillow-books and poems, but it's just the basic fact."

He paused.

"I'll mention your idea to Aimi. I'll follow her lead until the stars burn out, so if she likes it, it'll happen."

"Good, you keep saying she is smarter than you so whatever she decides is probably right. I'm leaving in the morning, if you are coming be there at first light. if not..." The turned and fully embraced his friend. "Know that you are loved Raizo of the Waves."

And when they released he stood and said. "now, we are out of shochu and I need to piss."

"That does tend to happen when you hit the bottle like it owes you money."

Raizo grinned.

"And you, Asahina-for-now Soyokaze... anyone gives you trouble, just remember, hit 'em in the balls and kick 'em while they're down until i can get there, all right?"

Soyokaze turned to walk back to the nearest path back to town. "Now go find your bride and be happy." and there was a smile in his voice.


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