[Day 9, Early Morning-Mikan's Room] The Forlorn Hope (Closed)

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai stood by the door, took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and nearly turned and walked away.

He had a plan. A simple plan. Kakita Mikan would be killed by bandits before she even reached the Scorpion lands. She was solved problem, even if she didn't know it yet. She had it coming after what she'd done to Hatsuki and Nadeshiko.

But does she really?

He despised her, and she returned the favor, any marriage they carried out would be an utter disaster.

But you also thought the Crane would never recognize your art.

Having her dead would be so much simpler. The clans would figure out another spouse for him to close his eyes and climb on top of until they'd gotten their samurai.

But I don't really want her dead.

And that was the realization that had him here, a small tray balanced on one hand with two cups of the Jinabori's miso soup.

He didn't want her dead. He didn't want to be cruel to her. He was never going to marry the woman he loved, so why be picky? And why be mean about it to someone who had nothing to do with it?

Seeing Mikan's art censored had... offended him. It had offended him more than her artwork ever could have done.

She's going to tell me to leave.

He scratched at the door.

"Kakita-san. It's Bayushi Choudai. Can we talk?"

Can we please try this again?

[Kakita Mikan]

It took a moment. Then there was a clattering and crashing about. Then the door opened upon a very tired looking Kakita Mikan.

"Ah, Bayushi-san.....I thought I had more time." she sighed.

She glanced backwards at the room and made a decision.

"I suppose you may as well come in." she said, moving back in to the room.

The room was...a mess. Every horizontal surface seemed to have a scroll or a book upon it and every vertical one a painting or a canvas.

The paintings were...quite stunning. One showed the majestic heights of the Dragon Mountains, another the sweeping epic that was the Golden Sun Plains, a third the storm swept beauty around the Mantis islands. No farts, just beautifully stunning landscapes.

Mikan shoved a pile of scrolls out of the way and slumped to the ground.


"If we're starting your torture of me today, Bayushi-san, I'd like to go ahead and start begging." she said.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai sighed.

"Soup, Kakita-san? No, we're not going to wallow in what an awful person I am. Not today."

He took a deep breath.

"No apology can make up for what I said to you, but I feel I must offer one anyhow. I was wounded in the moment, and hopeless, but that doesn't excuse anything. Our marriage may not be anything either of us would have chosen, but there's no reason to make you suffer any more than Fate has already done."

A grimace crossed his face.

"I'm neither a good man nor a good samurai, Kakita-san. I have no idea who you offended in the Crane Clan that they would marry you out, and marry you out to me in particular, but you certainly don't deserve it."

[Saibankan]

Choudai sighed.

"Soup, Kakita-san? No, we're not going to wallow in what an awful person I am. Not today."

He took a deep breath.

"No apology can make up for what I said to you, but I feel I must offer one anyhow. I was wounded in the moment, and hopeless, but that doesn't excuse anything. Our marriage may not be anything either of us would have chosen, but there's no reason to make you suffer any more than Fate has already done."

A grimace crossed his face.

"I'm neither a good man nor a good samurai, Kakita-san. I have no idea who you offended in the Crane Clan that they would marry you out, and marry you out to me in particular, but you certainly don't deserve it."

(Awa/Sincerity....hmmm, seems like it's Honesty, but if it's not then Deceit would apply)

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai sighed.

"Soup, Kakita-san? No, we're not going to wallow in what an awful person I am. Not today."

He took a deep breath.

"No apology can make up for what I said to you, but I feel I must offer one anyhow. I was wounded in the moment, and hopeless, but that doesn't excuse anything. Our marriage may not be anything either of us would have chosen, but there's no reason to make you suffer any more than Fate has already done."

A grimace crossed his face.

"I'm neither a good man nor a good samurai, Kakita-san. I have no idea who you offended in the Crane Clan that they would marry you out, and marry you out to me in particular, but you certainly don't deserve it."

(Awa/Sincerity....hmmm, seems like it's Honesty, but if it's not then Deceit would apply)

Day 9, Early Morning, Sincerity (Honesty emphasis would apply if he had it)/Awareness | 5k3 ⇒ 17

[Kakita Mikan]

It was clear in Mikan's eyes she didn't believe him. She'd already known so many that could hide a knife behind a smile and their last encounter where he reveled in his monsterous side was still burned into her mind.

It was also clear that the will to fight was gone.


"Perhaps they simply agree with you Bayushi-san. You said I was a worse samurai than you. No matter how low a bar is, one can still be beneath it.

She shook her head and sighed.

"But, if you truly don't want to make me suffer more than necessary, if Doji Nadeshiko was ever more than simply a convenient tool for you...please allow me to give her these paintings as my final gift to her. Her eyes are failing. She does not have the time to travel the Empire before it is all inky blackness to her. I want her to be able to see the Empire...at least as best as I am able to represent it from these accounts." she pleaded.

She knelt forward, prostrating herself.

"Please, Bayushi-san."

[Bayushi Choudai]

I can't blame her for anything she thinks of me.

"Permit you?"

He set the soup aside.

"Stand up, Kakita-san. I will help in any way I can. Transportation, paying for shipment, hell, if you need them routed anywhere at all, I'll do it. I'll carry them myself, one at a time to her room while you explain each one in turn, if that is what you require. It is the least I can do, both for Nadeshiko-san, and for the love you bear her."

He sighed.

"We cannot make each other happy. I certainly don't deserve happiness at your hands. But we're in this together."

[Kakita Mikan]

I can't blame her for anything she thinks of me.

"Permit you?"

He set the soup aside.

"Stand up, Kakita-san. I will help in any way I can. Transportation, paying for shipment, hell, if you need them routed anywhere at all, I'll do it. I'll carry them myself, one at a time to her room while you explain each one in turn, if that is what you require. It is the least I can do, both for Nadeshiko-san, and for the love you bear her."

He sighed.

"We cannot make each other happy. I certainly don't deserve happiness at your hands. But we're in this together."

And so she rose.

"Thank you, Bayushi-san. I know that I cannot make you happy.....but I feel I DO owe you an explanation and an apology. For my behavior in the competition. It was not being wed to you specifically that made me want to lash out. But I could not lash out at those I truly wished to. Not the matchmaker, nor those who had conspired to see me wed outside of the Crane, away from her. All protected by a sea of smiling Crane blue. BUT every story needs a Scorpion as a villain, and so I was able to vent my anguish using you as a subject. It was unkind of me, but in my grief I did not care. It was the only avenue I had to express what I was feeling and I took it, heedless of the cost to you now or to myself later. And I truly do apologize for that." she explained

[Bayushi Choudai]

And so she rose.

"Thank you, Bayushi-san. I know that I cannot make you happy.....but I feel I DO owe you an explanation and an apology. For my behavior in the competition. It was not being wed to you specifically that made me want to lash out. But I could not lash out at those I truly wished to. Not the matchmaker, nor those who had conspired to see me wed outside of the Crane, away from her. All protected by a sea of smiling Crane blue. BUT every story needs a Scorpion as a villain, and so I was able to vent my anguish using you as a subject. It was unkind of me, but in my grief I did not care. It was the only avenue I had to express what I was feeling and I took it, heedless of the cost to you now or to myself later. And I truly do apologize for that." she explained

He bowed his head.

"I cannot but accept your apology, Kakita-san. My own... vicious words were borne out of a comparable... general frustration. And make no mistake- deep down, I am always capable of being the monster you saw when we last spoke. I try not to be. She... makes me... better, in many ways, but... when I saw her hurt, it... removed all restraint, because... well."

He actually smiled.

"You of all people probably can understand- had I struck Nadeshiko-san in the face in front of you, what depths of fury would it have awakened in you?"

A deep breath.

"And they indeed did you a disservice, one that would tax the very sanity of anyone with a feeling heart. Your rage at what they have done to you is something you need not apologize for. But again, I accept your apology for the form it took."

A pause.

"But while we're on the subject, you painted a remarkable likeness of someone you'd never met. The Crane are fools to put a painter of your ability aside as they have."

[Kakita Mikan]

He bowed his head.

"I cannot but accept your apology, Kakita-san. My own... vicious words were borne out of a comparable... general frustration. And make no mistake- deep down, I am always capable of being the monster you saw when we last spoke. I try not to be. She... makes me... better, in many ways, but... when I saw her hurt, it... removed all restraint, because... well."

He actually smiled.

"You of all people probably can understand- had I struck Nadeshiko-san in the face in front of you, what depths of fury would it have awakened in you?"

A deep breath.

"And they indeed did you a disservice, one that would tax the very sanity of anyone with a feeling heart. Your rage at what they have done to you is something you need not apologize for. But again, I accept your apology for the form it took."

A pause.

"But while we're on the subject, you painted a remarkable likeness of someone you'd never met. The Crane are fools to put a painter of your ability aside as they have."

This netted a small shrug.

"There are many flowers in the gardens of the Crane, Bayushi-san. The Crane think nothing of plucking any particular one to leave dying on the bank of the river. No more than a Lion thinks of the costs of their soldier's lives. It is always the favor or the glory gained, regardless of price.' she offered.

[Bayushi Choudai]

This netted a small shrug.

"There are many flowers in the gardens of the Crane, Bayushi-san. The Crane think nothing of plucking any particular one to leave dying on the bank of the river. No more than a Lion thinks of the costs of their soldier's lives. It is always the favor or the glory gained, regardless of price.' she offered.

"All Clans will do it. Doesn't make it any less foolish."

He looked at one of the landscapes.

"They could have gotten more for you."

He let out a ragged sigh, then... smiled.

I have a reason.

"I won't presume enthusiasm for our marriage, Kakita-san, but... here, where it's just the two of us... we should discuss terms. Maybe not now, you seem to have a great deal to do, and perhaps we should see about delivering these paintings to Nadeshiko-san, but at some point before we leave here we should work things out. There will be secrets, it comes with the mask, but I will try to be honest with you as far as I can."

[Kakita Mikan]

"All Clans will do it. Doesn't make it any less foolish."

He looked at one of the landscapes.

"They could have gotten more for you."

He let out a ragged sigh, then... smiled.

I have a reason.

"I won't presume enthusiasm for our marriage, Kakita-san, but... here, where it's just the two of us... we should discuss terms. Maybe not now, you seem to have a great deal to do, and perhaps we should see about delivering these paintings to Nadeshiko-san, but at some point before we leave here we should work things out. There will be secrets, it comes with the mask, but I will try to be honest with you as far as I can."

Mikan yawned a bit, rubbing the last bit of sleep out of her eye with paint stained fingers.

"We may as well discuss it now, Bayushi-san. Just so we're clear, I won't stand in the way of your love. Whether you meet her secretly in an inn, bed her in your martial bed, or dance with her in the streets....I won't stop you." she offers.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Mikan yawned a bit, rubbing the last bit of sleep out of her eye with paint stained fingers.

"We may as well discuss it now, Bayushi-san. Just so we're clear, I won't stand in the way of your love. Whether you meet her secretly in an inn, bed her in your martial bed, or dance with her in the streets....I won't stop you." she offers.

He bowed gratefully.

"Likewise, your own pursuits- any mail you need carried, any visits, I will do all in my power to expedite. In our home, I lay claim to the kitchen, and one room for sleeping. The rest is yours. If you have to leave everything you know, the least I can do is give you the run of the house. The Clan will want children, but we can discuss... ways there."

[Kakita Mikan]

He bowed gratefully.

"Likewise, your own pursuits- any mail you need carried, any visits, I will do all in my power to expedite. In our home, I lay claim to the kitchen, and one room for sleeping. The rest is yours. If you have to leave everything you know, the least I can do is give you the run of the house. The Clan will want children, but we can discuss... ways there."

"That's more tehan I have any right to expect, Bayushi-san. Thank you." she said, offering her own bow.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"That's more tehan I have any right to expect, Bayushi-san. Thank you." she said, offering her own bow.

"It seems the least I can do. The household won't be much to manage at first, and having some... training in commerce, I'll do my best to handle that end of things- let me know if there's anything you require in that line."

He paused.

"Do you have any friends or family you'll want to see often? My brother Ogoe has some influence, I could probably see about travel papers for them."

[Kakita Mikan]

"That's more tehan I have any right to expect, Bayushi-san. Thank you." she said, offering her own bow.

"It seems the least I can do. The household won't be much to manage at first, and having some... training in commerce, I'll do my best to handle that end of things- let me know if there's anything you require in that line."

He paused.

"Do you have any friends or family you'll want to see often? My brother Ogoe has some influence, I could probably see about travel papers for them."

Mikan shook her head.

"The only one I want to see is Nadeshiko-san. I'd rather not see anyone else from here." she admits. Choudai could practically hear the years of hurt behind such a statement.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Mikan shook her head.

"The only one I want to see is Nadeshiko-san. I'd rather not see anyone else from here." she admits. Choudai could practically hear the years of hurt behind such a statement.

"She'll always be welcome in any home I have any control over."

He reached up and removed his mask, holding it in his hands.

"Given your treatment at my hands prior to today, I cannot say you should consider me a friend, but... I will ask that you leave yourself open to the possibility in time. And if anyone mistreats you going forward, that is also my concern. Do not hesitate to tell me."

[Saibankan]

Mikan shook her head.

"The only one I want to see is Nadeshiko-san. I'd rather not see anyone else from here." she admits. Choudai could practically hear the years of hurt behind such a statement.

"She'll always be welcome in any home I have any control over."

He reached up and removed his mask, holding it in his hands.

"Given your treatment at my hands prior to today, I cannot say you should consider me a friend, but... I will ask that you leave yourself open to the possibility in time. And if anyone mistreats you going forward, that is also my concern. Do not hesitate to tell me."

(Awa/Sincerity (Honesty) if you pleae)

[Bayushi Choudai]

(Awa/Sincerity (Honesty) if you pleae)

[You just hate me and want me to faaaaaaiiiiiil!

Day 9, Early Morning, Sincerity (Honesty emphasis would apply if he had it)/Awareness, trying this roll he always sucks at again, | 5k3 ⇒ 26]

[Kakita Mikan]

(Awa/Sincerity (Honesty) if you pleae)

[You just hate me and want me to faaaaaaiiiiiil!

Day 9, Early Morning, Sincerity (Honesty emphasis would apply if he had it)/Awareness, trying this roll he always sucks at again, | 5k3 ⇒ 26]

Mikan studied the Bayushi's face for a bit before speaking.

"Earlier you complimented my skill in painting you, Bayushi-san. I think you were being overgenerous. Really it was the description of the mask and the colors that I was drawing from. I know about the Scorpion traditions, but it IS a face of a possible friend someday, I think." she admitted honestly.