Sapphire Ambassadors

Choudai had always hated temples.

The Seven Fortunes were capricious bastards who delighted in screwing with mortals, his ancestors weren't generally the sorts of people you wanted looking in on you, and the Kami, well... his Kami wasn't the sort to be impressed by mouthed platitudes or the like.

And then there was the whole business in Naishou, and what it had taught him.

Reverence was consequently a hard sell.

But the only universal constant was change.

He entered the shrine, had a look around, and exhaled.

All right. All right. Twins. She's going to have twins. My children by the woman I love will not only have a wonderful mother, they'll be seen as a good omen by the Clan.

So.

Which one of you do I thank for this? I certainly haven't earned it. Even the pain of not being able to raise them doesn't outweigh my joy.

All the pain in the world is worth it for this. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Another enters the temple, with less hesitation as to which shrine to pray to. First he goes to Hotei, then to Ebisu, then to Koshin. Dressed in simpler garb than usual, Kaiu Kunio still made certain to clean up after his work at the forge was complete. He completes his ritual before noticing the Scorpion chef.

Oh! Jizo! Jizo does mercy- thank you for helping me find a reason. You know what for.

He clapped as he concluded- then spotted the Crab.

"Afternoon, Kaiu-san. Seems we're in the home stretch now..."

"The home stretch for what would be an inevitable conclusion for us, no? The gifts of Ebisu are quietly appreciated, and we are merely getting started."

"True enough. I have to wonder how we'll come off in the assessment here, though..."

"You showed admirable skill this week, and the records will show that. There is little more than can be wondered about other than who will be named Sapphire Champion."

"The obvious choices for that honor are Crane."

He paused.

"And I mean that honestly. But we'll see if the Clan is feeling more politically astute than that."

"I am sure they are, this is the first tournament of it's kind after all." He takes a moment to consider the political environment, "so in the end I guess it will be a Unicorn who becomes the first Sapphire Champion?"

Choudai shrugged.

"Perhaps. Even before he... vanished, the most prominent Phoenix competing was decidedly... odd."

A chuckle.

"And that's coming from me!"

"It is rather interesting that he introduces coffee in an important contest, then disappeared without a trace. "

"Monks, Kaiu-san, have neither their comings and goings, nor their supremely odd behavior seriously questioned all that often in my experience."

The Scorpion shook his head.

"He made a pitch about the stuff at a more private meeting at one of the tea houses shortly before he departed. I'll admit some of the things he said were intriguing, but at the same time..."

He made a seesaw motion with the hand.

"More information should be in hand before we go ahead and provide the stuff all around."

"We wouldn't even be able to grow it here. No, only something to indulge in once in a blue moon until the time comes for Rokugan to expand over the horizon. However, it is important to keep the future in mind. It is important to remember the roots, but without any leaves a tree will starve no matter how fertile the soil."

"Well, if the soil of Rokugan can't even sustain it, then I would say its acceptance is a long, long way away."

Possibly never.

"The one thing humanity has that makes it dominate Ningendo is its ability to defy expectations. These lands could become part of Rokugan in our lifetime, and I, for one, dont want to be caught by surprise. "

"I wasn't aware expansion was formal Imperial policy?"

(Whoops, posting with tired work brain. Let me know if this was way too out there)

(Just make it a character note and run with it! )

"It is not yet, but one must always be aware of the possibility. The ways of Tengoku are on a far greater time scale than simple servant's mind can comprehend. Hence keeping an open mind while following your lord's commands to the letter is key."

"Some minds are more open than others, Kaiu-san. I, for example, created quite the stir with one display..."