[D5MA, expecting] A couple of tales to tell

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

A little earlier than he planned, but it gave him time to prepare a small space in the forest to sit and think.

Setting up a couple of umbrellas and a straw mat on a rock to create a dry space in the forest, he took out some of his old obituaries and began to contemplate.

[Agasha Inoshishi]

Strolling through the woods, Inoshishi is looking for mushrooms. Not surprising really. Whistling tunelessly, she recognizes that she’s nearing the place she ran into people on that first day of the Miai. A faint smile crosses her lips, remembering the first of the near-love-besotted people she ran into.

Coming around a tree, she recognizes the Kitsu as he who had recognized her whistling before! She switches back to that old song, hoping his eyes will rise from his papers.

If he looks, she’s calls out then and if not, she calls out within a moment or four.

“Hi, Kitsu-San! Thanks for inviting me to come to the woods, it’s really nice to get away from the confines of the city! Did you know that all Go pieces are the same? I didn’t! I thought it would be like Shuji, where each one is different. The Shika were really nice, but I think they were surprised that I didn’t know how to play, but I didn’t really care about how to play! I hope they don’t send me to some Go champion! Unless Go champions are cute, in which’s case, sure! How’d you do today?”

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

That whistling...

He answered back with a familiar tune before turning to meet his guest for the afternoon with a practiced, endearing smile.

...She seemed as energetic as ever. It was a nice feeling, he thought.

Waiting until she had said her piece, he replied in order:

“Hi, Kitsu-San! Thanks for inviting me to come to the woods, it’s really nice to get away from the confines of the city!"

"It's good to see you here, Agasha-san. It is nice to enjoy the world the kami have built without our meddling hands."

Did you know that all Go pieces are the same? I didn’t! I thought it would be like Shuji, where each one is different.

"In a sense - in another, each Go piece changes and evolves as the game goes on, whereas Shoji pieces evolve the game by being there or not there."

The Shika were really nice, but I think they were surprised that I didn’t know how to play, but I didn’t really care about how to play!

"Go is a common game, if only because it is easy to play and teach with lots of room to grow. I never enjoyed the game myself."

I hope they don’t send me to some Go champion! Unless Go champions are cute, in which’s case, sure! How’d you do today?”

"Rest assured, I am no go champion."
He let the words sit a little for effect before continuing.
"...Then again, I don't believe any of us at the miai are. I played and won against the amateur then took my leave."

He patted on the mats he had laid out.

"Would you like a seat, Agasha-san?"

[Agasha Inoshishi]

She comes over at the same jaunty pace, too bouncy for a proper maiden, but endearing despite the...enthusiasm. She sits down a little more properly, close but not too close.

"I tried to beat one of the beginners, but he took his leave and said I didn't know the game. So I was embarrassed, which isn't that unusual, sadly, and I left. I like how you did that, when I talked and went on and on and you answered as I took a breath. More people need to do that! I've been getting to know that Stone Matsu and he just looks at me when I carry on like that. But that's okay, cause I don't mind being looked at as long as it isn't a mean looking at. And Ishioka doesn't look mean. Just big. What are you working on? I always thought I'd like to meet a Kitsu, you must know so many stories! Did you know that Go is supposed to tell a story? So you'd think I would be good at it, but I wasn't."

"Mushroom?"

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

She comes over at the same jaunty pace, too bouncy for a proper maiden, but endearing despite the...enthusiasm. She sits down a little more properly, close but not too close.

The Kitsu doesn't seem to mind, offering a couple of pats on the mat to show he's alright with her getting closer.

"I tried to beat one of the beginners, but he took his leave and said I didn't know the game. So I was embarrassed, which isn't that unusual, sadly, and I left.

"People don't know what they don't know, to simply leave without assisting you is just rude. I would be embarrassed for him, myself."

I like how you did that, when I talked and went on and on and you answered as I took a breath. More people need to do that!

The Kitsu nodded. "Thank you. I do try."

I've been getting to know that Stone Matsu and he just looks at me when I carry on like that.
But that's okay, cause I don't mind being looked at as long as it isn't a mean looking at.
And Ishioka doesn't look mean. Just big.

"I'm sure Ishioka-san means well."
In truth, he didn't know the man so well, but he seemed nice enough.

What are you working on? I always thought I'd like to meet a Kitsu, you must know so many stories!
Did you know that Go is supposed to tell a story? So you'd think I would be good at it, but I wasn't."

"Well. If you remember, as you remember our little tune, I write obituaries for the dead - part of which includes the final tales which will passed down to our descendants. As a, shall we say, story connoisseur myself, I thought I might share with you some of my work to see how well it holds up as a story." The ones he had pulled were quite old - old enough that no one would mind hearing the tales passed on like this - but a couple had been by his hand, in this generation. One never even got published, but...

"Mushroom?"

"Thank you. Tea?"

[Agasha Inoshishi]

“Yes of course please! The world is always better with tea and mushrooms!”

She sits down, sliding slightly closer than true propriety would prefer.

“Oh my, a story or stories, some of which may have never been heard before? Exciting! Please, I’m all ears! What would you like as a trade, aside from my goodwill. I know I’m great company, but not even I think my simple presence deserves such rarity as a well-told story!”

She’s all smiles, of course, because stories, but she’s certainly leaning in, waiting to catch every last word the Kitsu says.

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

Pouring his companion a cup and then himself, he mulled over her words.

"In truth, if I sought more than your company, I would have asked for it upfront - your mere presence is enough to satiate. I am trusting your expertise on stories to further my work, true, but I suppose we could... always make our own story together, so to speak. Or if pillow-books are more your fancy, I have some storied tricks I could show."

His tone made his innuendo obvious, but he was pretty certain that Inoshishi was not one for subtly, so he felt he had to be a tad on the obvious side.

“This record is among one of the first ever made by the records of the fallen, written about someone older than the organisation itself. It was from records like these, pieced together from hearsay, legend and smaller records, which showed the need for an organisation like ours. These particular stories are opening briefs.”

“I know you may have questions, but would it be possible to wait until the end? It may be easier to understand once it is taken in all at once."

With that, he began.

- - - -

”Matsu Mitsuhide, a Matsu Gunso stationed in various locations, from 403-435.”

He skipped over the rest of the genealogical records to focus on the story itself.

” What is the truest virtue of bushido? What is the purest form of loyalty, and to whom is it owed? If the one you serve truly serves someone else, do your serve your master or your master’s master? During these tumultuous times, these were questions every samurai asked – some answered wrongly.”

Who, from a modern perspective, was easy to identify.

“This was never the case for Matsu Mitsuhide. Having been born during the chaos caused by the Gozoku conspiracy, many of Mitsuhide’s personal writings and private poetry depicted a sense of strife and desire for the Imperial line to hold true power in Rokugan. He even took the name which was supposed to belong one Hantei-no-Kami’s early aides. His gempuku saw him graduate as a Matsu Berserker, but through records of service and level headedness he was rewarded the rank of Gunso in the year 420.”

A full as possible military history was referenced, but not spelled out in the covering brief.

“ In 424, Dragon delegates arranged for Hantei Yugozhime, may the fortunes bless her name, to be trained within the Lion lands. To the surprise of no one, the Gozoku tried to have the child killed. However, what did cause surprise was the bravery of the recently ailed Matsu Mitsuhide, who was food poisoned at the time and his dominant arm cast. Upon the escort being attacked, in naught but a recovery yakuta and his daisho, he lead the charge against the assault, helping repel it but at the permanent price of his dominant arm.”
“As reward for his bravery, Mitsuhide-sama was assigned as part of Imperial Heir’s personal aides. He rekindled his old love for poetry and prose, helping her learn to write and conduct poetry. The old haiku Mountain lilies was the first work poem her majesty conducted under his tuleage, at the age of eight.”
“In the final march against the Gozoku, Mitsuhide himself was on the front lines. It was said, before the charge, he addressed the entire Lion amy as follows:”

Though not normal, he stood from his place, adopting the stance the man might have before the battle.

“Brothers, sisters, cousins, soldiers! If I die here, it is in the name of Hantei! If we hesitate and falter, it is his name we disgrace, as well as Lord Akodo! If I die here, I do so gladly, but not before carving a path forward for our empire, even if I am but leaves over a puddle on the path! If I die here, may my final words be remembered thus: The enemy is at Otosan Uchi!”

clearing his throat, he returned to his seat and the record, offering the Agasha an arm to wrap around herself without looking.

“Hantei Yugozhime herself, may the fortunes bless her name, personally returned his daisho to their family after the battle and was said to attend his funeral. He died a hero, a paragon of loyalty, and paver of the Empire’s salvation. His spirit is succeeded along the Matsu line, and as of the time of writing is connected by the Kitsu to one Akodo Kabuto. It is said that if there ever an enemy that enters Otosan Uchi, Mitsuhide’s birth home will see a fell beam of moonlight.”

Returning the copied brief to his bag, he turned to the story enthusiast.

“What did you think?”

[Agasha Inoshishi]

Inoshishi chuckles, a bit more throaty and faster than someone of her supposed innocence should have. She opens her mouth slightly, but as the Kitsu continues, she reconsiders, instead miming locking her mouth and throwing away the key.

She listens with the most attention she’s shown towards anything, her eyes shining as she envisions the story as it’s told. She’s clearly enamored by the story, the time period and the honorable actions. When the Kitsu stands and shouts, she covers her mouth in excitement and then cheers as he finishes.

Her eyes are sparkling at the finish of the story, the gears in her head storing the story and fitting it in to her understating of the Lion. She doesn’t mind accepting the perhaps too familiar arm. After all, this is a Miai.

“Wow, that’s a truly spectacular story! When duty and honor meet, the Lion are at their best! I’m proud the Dragon helped facilitate such an excellent pairing of Hantei and tutor! Are there many Lion that find their passions reignited when they encounter children they need to train? While we Dragon have similar feelings, we also have so many monks that many families are able to continue with their current passions while ensuring their children are trained properly. Is raising children important to the Lion? Or mainly the siring of the samurai of the next generation?”

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

All in all, the Lion was glad his work was being received as well as it was - not just the storytelling, but also his forwardness. There was something adorable about the way she shone and hung on his every word - not like a blessing from lady Amaterasu, not like the mildew on the dawn, but like... like there was some kind of natural kami of smiles and it had just been summoned into his heart.

Still, he had kept her silence long enough - he answered her gusto.

“Wow, that’s a truly spectacular story! When duty and honor meet, the Lion are at their best!"

The Lion have a prideful smirk. "You know it."

"I’m proud the Dragon helped facilitate such an excellent pairing of Hantei and tutor!"

A somber nod. "It was a hard time for everyone involved, and a brave choice for the Dragon to act against the Gozoku."

"Are there many Lion that find their passions reignited when they encounter children they need to train?"

"A lot of retired or... forced to retire do often find themselves becoming sensei in some way, moreso than monks. Every soldier's story helps build the best sword the Emperor could ever hope for."

"While we Dragon have similar feelings, we also have so many monks that many families are able to continue with their current passions while ensuring their children are trained properly."

"The Kitsu thought, then answered. "Truthfully, the strongest raising bond is between child, class and sensei. A mother and father does not love them any less, don't get me wrong, but Lion children understand that the people they learn alongside may one day be the ones they face down an enemy charge with. There is a sense of extended family - the Pride. Each Lion may come to owe their life to the next, so there is a sense of us against the world."

"Is raising children important to the Lion? Or mainly the siring of the samurai of the next generation?”

"It is one of the most important things. Every Lion, from the lowliest eta to the most mediocre ashigaru to the brightest kuge, is the result of the love, effort and honour of ancestors. So we must strive not only to be worthy of their attention, but to ensure our children are worthy as well."

His spare hand slipped into his bag, preparing another story, but he was willing to field any questions the Dragoness had before feeding her more.

[Agasha Inoshishi]

“Well things truly are different down the mountain. While we among the Dragon raise our children with love and compassion, we are not as united as the Lion and the Pride. Of course, we are a clan of disparate interests and pursuits, enlightenment coming in many forms and places. I have little to discuss with my parents, save for the goal of enlightenment. They pursue through meditation and experimentation, while I gather stories of the world.”

She fingers her lucky charm, stroking the Lion colors.

“Perhaps one day I will learn more of this unity. Continue with stories from your marvelous Pride.”

She ponders a moment before more delicately and obliquely passing a warning.

“Among the Dragon, we find sincerity of purpose guides our action, while isolation encourages our physicality, much like the great Dragons that dwell among the Kami. I have see lion in the wild. Does not the male defend with ferocity that which he thinks is his?”

She’s making no move away or anything, she’s still not familiar enough with the customs of other peoples or removed enough from the more egalitarian life of the Togashi.