[D7 EA] Acknowledged!

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"I... I don't know. I've been feeling... odd... lately," She admitted softly. "It's hard to describe."

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai bit his lip.

"Try, my love. You know I'll listen for as long as it takes to find the right words."

For her, he would wait until the stars burned out.

"Maybe it's something to do with the competition?"

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"I've been feeling... disconnected... a little bit, I suppose..." She said, shaking her head. "You're probably right. Between the stress of the competition and pregnancy, anyone would be feeling it."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"If you ever need someone to create a distraction, you know who to give the nod."

He smiled and winked.

"And let me tell you, if I ever find myself feeling adrift, I know who I can turn to."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She chuckled and threw him a suggestive grin. "Well, a distraction might be slightly awkward at the moment..."

"I understand, though... and I'm glad, and appreciate it."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"You know that glib bit, where you tell someone you could do no less, just to be polite?"

He leaned closer.

"I think I need new words for when I talk to you."

My missing half.

He'd never thought in those terms before meeting her- pillowbooks weren't his thing, and he certainly wasn't the most spiritual, and he'd never really been a romantic until the Painted City, but...

But there is nothing I wouldn't do to help her in any way I could.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

It was true. So deeply so that it touch her soul in a way such a thing said by anyone else wouldn't have. He was her light, the place her heart went for comfort when nothing else could be counted on, even when he wasn't there.

She squeezed his hand. "You're everything to me. You and the child." The new creation the two halves brought together made.

She worked her jaw, then leaned up and murmured something softly in his ear.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai's eyes went wide, and his his grip on her hand tightened.

Then he simply embraced her, holding her close, and murmured a response in her ear.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She hugged back and nodded. they stayed like that for a few moments before she pulled back.

"It's not all that bad just yet... I'm sorry to spread my worries to you. It should be a happier occasion today."

[Bayushi Choudai]

He nodded, biting his lip for a moment.

"It should be. But I..." A pause. "Thank you, Hatsuki-chan."

The trust she had shown him was...

Brighten her mood, you fool, she's got worries enough.

"But anyway, speaking of celebration... are we ready for this evening's presentations? I fully expect a return to form from the judges... or perhaps the Horiuchi will stop simmering in her resentment and simply beat me over the head with her latest creation."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She squeezed his hand gently during the pause and smiled at him. "Thank you. I think very few ever find someone they can trust the way I can you." Someone knew. If the time came, well... She could trust him with what had to be done.

"As ready as I'll ever be. It took me forever to figure out what sort of presentation to do today," she replied with a long, dramatic sigh. "What do you say about Honor itself? Oh no, is that Unicorn causing problems?"

"You know, at least the judges keep their criticisms to the work itself rather than the medium. As far as Crane critics go, I've seen so much worse."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Honor is a tricky one. But I'll be taking a cue from Zoido- simple, straightforward, no frills."

At the comment about the Unicorn he shrugged.

"Despite her having been perfectly amicable at the time, it seems my Courtesy display offended her deeply and gravely. Which makes sense of some of yesterday's developments- both in letting me know who likely complained, and why the Crane took two days to muster any sort of response. Probably, she'll hate me for life, but I penned an abject apology this morning. Whatever. We'll see."

As for the judges...

"I am inclined to agree, although they did come after my medium for Chugo. But in the main, yes, they focus on the work..." He frowned. "I'll also admit, only one of them gave me the nod yesterday. So..."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"I don't remember how much I was able to meet Hiruma-san, but it seems he had an impact on you," she noted with a smile. Though at the Unicorn, she rolled her eyes. "Whatever indeed. You've already invested more than necessary in that nonsense. Idiots."

"I admit, after having actually spoken to one of them more socially, I might be more inclined toward the benefit of the doubt."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Were she not such a friend of your cousin's, I might have been tempted to invest a bit more time to show the difference between how I treat those I mean no harm as opposed to those I do, but that seemed a course presenting more trouble than she's worth."

He snorted.

"Besides, word is she won't be a Unicorn long and isn't happy about it, so."

A shrug, and he put the woman out of his mind.

"And you spoke to one of our judges socially? My, my, what would Utemaro-kun say?"

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She smirked a little. She didn't relish others suffering as she had, but causing problems for Choudai was always an exception.

"Kakita Hyoukasha-sama unexpectedly showed up at the Sunset Leaves the other day. It wasn't a bad conversation. Why, has Utemaro-sama expressed some problem with that?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai's tone was all innocence.

"Why, one of the judges at the event he's hosting having a private conversation with a competitor? Tsk!"

He started to chuckle again.

"If Shino were here, she'd have him tearing his hair out in clumps by now... but I'm glad to hear Kakita-sama was... personable."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She laughed gently. "I suppose it could be construed as influencing. For shame upon me. I don't know if I would say personable, but he seemed more like he had been afflicted by Yoshino-san's troubles than disinterested."

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai blinked at that.

"Truly? She seemed better of late... do you suppose..."

Robbed of its main target, it went for someone else?

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"I don't know. It's entirely possible," she replied, tilting her head to the side. "Have you caught up with her since we last spoke?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Actually, yes, briefly... yesterday morning, when I was securing replacement cookware."

He scratched at his chin.

"She said some sort of consultant was being brought in to help resolve the issue."