[D6: ME: Open] Back again

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"I have never heard the story told thus," Yakuwari says. "But then, I had not spoken with you, so that makes sense."

Notes get taken.

[Kitsune Shizenko]

"I don't know if it's true but makes a bit of sense." She drank. "Take your time and always be aware of your surroundings." The girl giggled. "Probably something that is probably in your book somewhere. Leadership, right?"

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"The words of Akodo-no-Kami contain much wisdom, indeed," Yakuwari avers. "And he did encourage scouting."

[Kitsune Shizenko]

"To the wisdom of the Kami." She held her cup high. "Kampai!" Shizenko made the toast and drank.

[Akodo Yaukwari]

Yakuwari cannot refuse to echo the toast, so he raises his cup again with a "Kampai!" and drinks.

And he coughs again, being unused to such drink.

[Kitsune Shizenko]

Shizenko chuckled. "Not used to drinking, Akodo sama?"

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"No," Yakuwari replies, flatly. "Not much occasion to previously."

[Kitsune Shizenko]

"It helps with sadness and makes you forget from time to time." Shizenko sighed. "For a while one can be happy without thinking of what happens in the future."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

Yakuwari gives something of a smile.

"I am assigned to an Ikoma, Kitsune-san," he says. "The Ikoma are the living memory of the Clan and of the Empire."

[Kitsune Shizenko]

"It is understood that something should not be forgotten. Then again..." The Kitsune smiled. "There are things that should just be kept out of the books."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"Oh?"

Yakuwari's eyebrows rise.

"Such as?"

[Kitsune Shizenko]

Shizenko tilted her head. "Things that might provoke people against the Empire. Things of chaos and darkness that goes against the teachings of the Kami." The woman explained. "But what do I know? I am just a simple shugenja of a minor clan."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"Such things must be known to be recognized as the enemies they are," Yakuwari replies. "Just as one must know the mons of one's enemies to find them in the fray. And a righteous person has nothing to hide."

[Kitsune Shizenko]

"Their teachings should be taboo." Shizenko sighed. "If they are to be written as heresy... better not go into specifics just that such things should be then secured."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"Failing to confront them is turning away from the work of the ancestors who faced them," Yakuwari replies. "What samurai could do such a thing?"

[Kitsune Shizenko]

"What library would keep heretic works?" She frowned. "Samurai that have been manipulated by the dark realm and lost their way...sad that such samurai exist."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

Yakuwari's reply has something of the rote scholarly about it.

"We keep the histories to the intent that noble people may see and learn the noble acts of Bushido, the genteel and virtuous deeds that some samurai used in those days, by which they came to honor, and how they that were vicious were punished and often put to shame and rebuke. In them, readers shall find many joyous and pleasant things, and noble and renowned acts of humanity, grace, and Bushido. For within the Histories may be seen noble Bushido, courtesy, compassion, fealty, hardiness, love, friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Who do after the good and leave the evil shall find good fame and renown. All is written for our doctrine, to beware that we fall not to vice and sin, but exercise and follow virtue, by which we may come and attain to good fame and renown in this life, and after this short and transitory life to come into everlasting bliss under the Heavens."

(With apologies to Caxton.)

[Kitsune Shizenko]

Shizenko seem a bit at odds. "Then what about those who see a hero in the heretic or villain of the story? Their hearts corrupted by such works. They follow their hearts but not the Empire. They do their lords work when it is part of their plan. They are still samurai with corruption in their heart and what placed that corruption there... The stories... but I guess that can be said of every story told."

She looked at Raakun and shook her head. "A corruption that gives hope to the frail mind."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"Those who would see as much are corrupt already," Yakuwari avers. "Were it not one thing, it would be another."

[Kitsune Shizenko]

"True..." She sighed. "How can we protect ourselves Akodo sama?"