Sapphire Ambassadors

He probably should have used the time to track down his bride-to-be, maybe done some prep work for his presentation later, or even simply run screaming off of the top of the manor house to make an artistic impression on the paving stones.

But he'd made a promise to the woman he loved, so that last one was off of the table. The second, well, he wasn't too worried about. The worst that happened, he'd lethally poison himself and anyone who ate his display, and those sorts of stakes insured plenty of focus on Choudai's part.

And he wasn't about to embark upon the first without... well.

Telling someone he could trust. Really trust.

And in this town, that meant only one person.

Said person arrived shortly, managing to look rather tired despite her immaculately-arranged makeup. Still, she lit up with a smile upon seeing Choudai waiting for her at the tea house.

She approached and bowed. "Thank you for the invitation, Bayushi-san. How has your morning been?" Asking Choudai a stock question like whether he'd had rice seemed less than appreciative of him.

His own joy at the sight of her never failed to startle him with its intensity... and was no less welcome for all of that.

He rose with a smile, bowed, and motioned for her to take a seat.

"Ah, Shosuro-san, it has not been without trials, but I find the presence of a good friend helps to bear up magnificently... so thank you for being here. I have a piece of... news. It's... well, quite a thing to take in, to say the least. But before I run away with the conversation, how does the day find you?"

Besides radiant.

She took the requested seat.

"Oh, I was surprised to be greeted with breakfast in my room this morning. It seems my husband has arrived in town. For moral support during the tournament, no doubt," she replied with a mask of pleasantness.

Creeping around in my room when I'm asleep, apparently.

"What news do you have?"

"Ah! Do give him my best, it's been a long time since I saw him last."

How odd that he would give me a letter before saying hello to you.

"And your husband's comforting presence fits my own matrimonial news. I now know who the nakodo has selected for me."

Sip.

"A contestant here, as a matter of fact."

Did part of him enjoy drawing this out? Oh yes. It was a bit like the time he'd burned his hand cooking, kept it hidden until he saw his chance, and then chased Ozaki and Ayame around the house with it.

"I would be happy to," she agreed, taking a sip of her own tea, watching his face for any hint of what was coming. "Whoever could it be?"

"A painter trained by the Kakita."

Sip.

"And one who seems to know me well enough to paint me, despite our never having met."

"Hmm... Is that so?" Her grip on the teacup had turned white-knuckled despite her expression refusing to be anything less than perfectly pleasant. "How interesting. Perhaps you've met before?"

"If we have, I have no memory of it. But based upon the prevalence of my visage in the art displayed, I must conclude that she is as breathless with excitement and anticipation as I am."

"I suspect any breathlessness is because of the gas suffusing the room," she replied, voice dropping into a flat tone along with her expression. "Honestly, really?"

"Really."

Sip.

"Why, I could hardly contain my excitement when I read the news. I fear the letter went all to pieces."

She stared at him hard.

She tapped her thighs where she was sitting with both hands, alternating.

She literally bit her tongue.

How fucking dare they? Wasn't my situation bad enough?

"..." She made several false starts at speaking, but kept closing her mouth and going silent.

"... I can... only imagine."

She figured she might started calming down after a little while, but she hadn't been this enraged since the hair incident. That she could at least do something about.

This had her carefully considering the merits and flaws of burning the village down.

"Yes, it's been quite the momentous news."

Sip.

His own calm was only possible because he had her to share his actual feelings with.

"I may ask my sister Shino to convey my thanks to the nakodo."

She's always had a knack for crippling careers.

"Naturally, I will need to arrange a meeting with my intended."

She took a few deep breaths. The anger didn't drain so much as the bonfire of it had an edge around it and there were some sand buckets and water handy just in case. Everything was fine. Murder was not the answer.

Yet.

"Hai. That seems like a good thing to do."

"In any event, I may seek your guidance on marriage as matters progress."

He was starting to feel a bit better, just having her to talk to about it.

Thank the Fortunes.

"Is the tea to your liking? I could request a different blend if you wish."

"No, its-"

She clapped her hand over her mouth and hurried out of the room. The unexpected stress must have caused it, then calming down a little let it hit. She overestimated herself - She wasn't totally out of the woods when it came to morning sickness yet.

As she found a quiet, appropriate place for her stomach to reject the earlier breakfast, a wild thought crossed her mind that she hoped the teahouse proprietor wouldn't take it as an insult.

Choudai wanted to run after her, to hold her hair out of her face.

Instead he rose to his feet and looked around for Akijin.

"Yes, Bayushi-sama?" comes her words as he swiftly finds her.

"Shosuro-san is expecting. Might you have something to help settle her stomach?"

He didn't really wait for the answer- he was already following Hatsuki to see what could do.

"It will be a few minutes to steep," Akijin says to the withdrawing Scorpion.

And then she works on a ginger-mint tea.