(D9, MM, Open) One Last Prayer

[Doji Nadeshiko]

The shrine. This will be the last time she visits, she thinks. There's a brief pause at the steps to turn back and survey the village. Soon she'll leave; soon, all this will have been a warm dream. Part of her wishes it could go on forever, but in her heart Nadeshiko knows just as well as anyone that life stops for no girl.

Nadeshiko runs through every ritual motion she's been taught, prays every prayer she's been taught, gives the kami, the fortunes, her ancestors, every important figure she can think of their due, as well as thanking Ebisu for, she hopes, listening -- and then the Doji settles in for what she came here to plead.

It's selfish, and she's allowed some selfishness.

Her hands clasp over her heart as she begins pleading with her very soul.

Fukurokujin, fortune of wisdom, please guide the judges in their decision. I beg of you, let them see the hard work of my friends -- Bayushi Choudai, Shosuro Hatsumi, and Horiuchi Sriyani.

If they must pick anyone, please, any of those three -- especially -- especially --

Sriyani.

She blinks back tears at the thought. Anything, anything, she would give anything to change that woman's fate, to have the whole world see her for who she is. Her shoulders tremble as she holds back the storm inside her. There's little she can do for poor Choudai and Hatsumi -- but Sriyani could be still saved from the pain those two know. More than anything she wants her friend's happiness.

Please, Fukurokujin, guide Doji Utemaro's decision of the appointment for next year's host. Let him see the wisdom in passing the torch to the Scorpion Clan. They have suffered enough. They are our family, more than any other clan, they are our family, surely; please, let us be a good sister, let us love our brother, knowing full well the burdens he carries. There is wisdom in forgiveness. There is wisdom in choosing love. Please open his heart to it.

Nadeshiko cannot openly weep, so instead she covers her face with her sleeve, its silk growing heavy.

I know I have been foolish. I know I have nothing to offer but these hands. Please. Please. Simply tell me what I must do and I will do it. I will be good. I will serve. Allow me this selfishness, please, allow me this; there is wisdom in wanting a better world, happier people, isn't there? Please.

[Fukurokujin]

A sense of peace washes over Nadeshiko, and the wall scrolls flutter a bit, though no breeze is to be felt in the room.

The Fortune is listening.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

The Fortune is listening.

Something opens within her -- the flower of Nadeshiko's heart blooming in hope. Whether it's divine inspiration or simply madness, she speaks some verses aloud, others left for only the Fortune:

"Most wise of fortunes,
Your presence honors this one:
Thank you for listening.
These hands, which offer poems,
Lie open, palm-up, ready."

Bless the hands which made the garlic gyoza I ate.

"The dutiful tree
Offers its fruit without thanks.
All men need to eat."

Bless the hands which applied makeup on my face.

"Like the sun, her touch
Paints everything with beauty:
What's hidden revealed."

Bless the hands which crafted my favorite bracelet.

"Between heaven and earth
Protection is forged with love.
And who protects her?"

May those whose hands can do much see their value and act accordingly.

"Three flowers neglected
In a vast garden's bounty --
One cannot help but weep.
The gardener who nurtures those
Brings honor upon his house."

Bless my brothers and sisters in the Scorpion Clan, who have lost much.

Without spiders' work
Flies swarm the master's palace.
Weave your fragile webs.

Bless my brothers and sisters in the Crane Clan, who have given much.

Wings rise with grace, bright
Against the darkening skies.
A new horizon.

Bless the hands which hold each other.

"Two children embrace.
Let us dry each other's tears --
There is still love here.
Together, let's walk forward
Along the wild unknown path."

...I am sorry to have taken so much of your time, great one. My heart feels lighter... thank you for listening. Wherever you send me, I shall go.

Tired and unsure of how much time has passed, the woman's shoulders slump, but she's smiling. Like a pitcher, she's been emptied.

[Fukurokujin]

The presence is similarly gone, having heard what it needs to hear.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

The presence is definitely gone, and there is no one pressing a certain Unicorn to come pray at this hour. Sriyani was glad she hadn’t been born Moshi. Getting up before dawn to greet the sun each day would have made the past week rather sleep-deprived.

After washing hands and mouth, she enters, but spots her friend and pause beside her before offering her own prayers. She’s not sure what’s different, but something is.”

“Nadeshiko-san? Are you… I hope you’re well?”

(Ooc, given the divine intervention since we messaged earlier, let me know if you’d prefer the scene ended there and I will prod you elsewhere and edit this out)

[Doji Nadeshiko]

“Nadeshiko-san? Are you… I hope you’re well?”

The Crane woman makes a dreamy little sound as she turns to face Sriyani, positively radiant. "Happy as a sparrow in spring!" She chirps with a grin. Nadeshiko then turns back, finishing her prayers with the ritualistic clap and thankful bow the Fortune deserves. "Does the morning find you well, Sriyani-san?"

((No, it's really nice actually! ;; The person she wanted most for showed up!))

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"Need to find you a proper nest then, Nade-sparrow," she teases, with a grin as relieved as it is happy. "And the morning finds me sore but well, virtuously in my own bed before Lady Sun rises, even. Though out of it a good bit later. Might need to offer a bit more to Ebisu if she carries tales of my morning laziness."

She offers the Fortune her own bow and clap, though not a prayer yet. But it would feel rude gossiping at his feet without even acknowledgment.

"So pleased to see Togashi-san's work recognized, last night. And today...all's announced and we can stop wondering!" She shifts to more fully face her Crane friend. "I suppose I needn't ask if the Fortunes find you well. What has you so happy today?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Need to find you a proper nest then, Nade-sparrow," she teases, with a grin as relieved as it is happy. "And the morning finds me sore but well, virtuously in my own bed before Lady Sun rises, even. Though out of it a good bit later. Might need to offer a bit more to Ebisu if she carries tales of my morning laziness."

She offers the Fortune her own bow and clap, though not a prayer yet. But it would feel rude gossiping at his feet without even acknowledgment.

"So pleased to see Togashi-san's work recognized, last night. And today...all's announced and we can stop wondering!" She shifts to more fully face her Crane friend. "I suppose I needn't ask if the Fortunes find you well. What has you so happy today?"

"You? Lazy? I hardly believe it." There's a little giggle. She settles into another kind of happiness at the reminder -- Yoshiaki's recognition had brought her joy, too. Nadeshiko had really had so many prayers, so many promises, answered here. It's hard not to feel thankful for that.

Her hands, still open, palms up, rise, and Nadeshiko looks to them with a knowing smile. "I think good things will happen. I want them to, and I hope they will. With these hands... I've tried bringing about a future I can live with." Oh; that cuts a little closer to the truth than it should have. Yes. It's good she lived. It's good she chose life, in all its sorrows and joys. Had she thrown herself into the waters she would not have seen, nor met, nor loved all these people, been here at this exact moment, said these exact words, known the truth at the heart of everything.

Serenity makes its home in her body. She Understands.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

snip

Sriyani looks to her friend, then to the shrine. "Here? I think the rest of the time here should have only good things. It would take some effort to make bad things happen in the time we have left here." She leans in to touch the Doji's wrist, not taking her hands...whatever's offered there is for the Fortunes. "And the future keeps unfolding. This competition has shown me that we have so many different ways to work with what we're given, sometimes even pain...hmm, or mud...nourishes beauty." She grins a bit on 'mud'.

"But I think we've both seen enough favor to expect to be name Ambassadors. That means travel, at least." She glances around the space. "Have you already made your offerings to Benten-kami? Because I'm not kidding about finding you a nest. Traveling around...I'm passing names of everyone half decent to your nakodo unless you give me some guidelines. Or maybe invite you to Shiro Iuchi this winter to meet a few cousins...Ok there's two that might be good enough..."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Have you already made your offerings to Benten-kami? Because I'm not kidding about finding you a nest. Traveling around...I'm passing names of everyone half decent to your nakodo unless you give me some guidelines. Or maybe invite you to Shiro Iuchi this winter to meet a few cousins...Ok there's two that might be good enough..."

"Ah! No!" Oh, sweet Benten, only briefly given her due reverence; Nadeshiko will have to properly pray to her most beloved Fortune soon. "Maybe we could make an offering together? You have to think of your own fortunes, too, Sriyani-san. Though..." Her cheeks flush pink as she thinks of something... or someone, rather. "...I would like someone tall... and to go to winter court with you..."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

snip

Sriyani nods. "I've yet to make any offerings today. For myself, I think Benten's offered me plenty this season, so I'll beg on your behalf, my friend." There's a wry smile. "I think not even Benten can make Isawa-san sweeter...though maybe she'd send him a distraction from time to time."

She sets her bit of incense before the statue, lighting it from the glowing end of someone's previous offering, letting the sweet agarwood and jasmine wreath them before her prayers...those spoken and well-worn from use, and those silent and less certain of their wording.

Benten-kami, you have my thanks for the reminder that desire can kindle amid heartache. But my sister has more need of such blessings with a heart so big it's only natural that it finds more sorrow than those who refuse to open theirs. I will dedicate the work of my hands all winter to you, in whatever court I'm called to, in hope that you'll accept it and find a heart to match hers and bring them together. Her lips twitch a moment, before she adds aloud. "And if they're tall, that would be even better."

When both have made their offerings and prayers she turns to Nadeshiko, "now getting to the same court, I think we can probably arrange. Ambassadors will likely have many invitations to chose from...the Champion? First one and all...probably the Imperial Winter Court, wherever that is this year. We'll just have to keep in touch and figure out how to get us both to the same one." She's less certain than she sounds, but only a little. Wrangling her way to the biggest winter court has to be easier as a Sapphire Ambassador than as simply the resident shugenja of a small Unicorn village. Right? "Aaaand, if you've already got someone tall in mind...well we have all year to make sure they're there too, right?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

snip <3

There's a tenderness there as Nadeshiko watches Sriyani pray. Perhaps she won't have to worry about that stuffy Isawa fiance of hers after all. Just that thought makes the Crane feel brighter.

There's a little giggle when Sriyani mentions that last bit of her prayer out loud. Nadeshiko nods. Of course, of course. Well, it won't be trouble at all, not for her beloved friend.

Her blush gets worse at mention of somebody in mind. She simply hides her mouth with her sleeves, gaze finding somewhere else to be. "W-well... if it's Winter Court, I'm sure there will be plenty of people..." Please no more married Scorpions, Benten. She's had enough of that kind of heartache. "I don't know if ... mm." Her eyes close as her head droops to the side; she's considering. His attitude's terrible, though...

"...what would you do if Yoshiaki-san was there, too?" That's easier and a much more fun topic.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

snip

Her brows raise a bit before she looks aside and up to the Fortune. "Make the most of the blessings offered to us," she says with a wry smile. "And count on you for lessons in court discretion!"

Turning back to Nadeshiko, shifting to fully face her, she leans in..."ahh, but 'you don't know if...' someone's behind that blush, no?" Pulling back just a bit, head inclining toward the shrine, she adds, "surely you can speak it before Benten herself..."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Her brows raise a bit before she looks aside and up to the Fortune. "Make the most of the blessings offered to us," she says with a wry smile. "And count on you for lessons in court discretion!"

Turning back to Nadeshiko, shifting to fully face her, she leans in..."ahh, but 'you don't know if...' someone's behind that blush, no?" Pulling back just a bit, head inclining toward the shrine, she adds, "surely you can speak it before Benten herself..."

"Ooooh, but Sriyani-chan, I'd be a very bad teacher..." Still, her smile seeps into her voice, Nadeshiko giggling a little; she can picture it now, Yoshiaki and Sriyani taking moonlit walks at a beautiful Court. Until -- "Oh!" The Crane squeaks, looking about ready to squirm. "I -- I -- there's -- I only -- uhm --" And now her face is hidden completely. Very gently she whispers, "I did see someone handsome..."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

snip

"Better teacher than I am! Actual court training and all." She laughs a bit at the idea of trying to graft a hunter's stealth onto court dalliances...sneaking carefully to check her snares doesn't seem like it would apply.

"Someone? Hmm...your clan or another? If you won't utter the name, I'll just have to work my way there." She glances to the incense. "Benten might guide my way."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

snip

"Better teacher than I am! Actual court training and all." She laughs a bit at the idea of trying to graft a hunter's stealth onto court dalliances...sneaking carefully to check her snares doesn't seem like it would apply.

"Someone? Hmm...your clan or another? If you won't utter the name, I'll just have to work my way there." She glances to the incense. "Benten might guide my way."

Oh nooooo. She's at it like a wolf, now! The Crane begins to wiggle where she stands, finally mumbling out, "Mantis," Before turning around to double-hide. "B-but it's nothing!"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

snip

"Ohh, handsome! It's nothing for now but some imagining, but who knows?" She offers Benten another bow acknowledging that she likely favors the young man given his obvious charisma. "He'd make a fun character for that pillowbook though, wouldn't he?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"He'd make a fun character for that pillowbook though, wouldn't he?"

"He would..." She answers softly. "A cunning, sneaky man worming a way into a maiden's heart... oh... I bet he's quite popular..."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"He would..." She answers softly. "A cunning, sneaky man worming a way into a maiden's heart... oh... I bet he's quite popular..."

Sriyani raises an eyebrow. "I'm not sure how much I like cunning and sneaky there. Though I guess that's useful if you're trying to sneak around a whole court..." She sounds a bit dubious, but willing to be convinced.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Sriyani raises an eyebrow. "I'm not sure how much I like cunning and sneaky there. Though I guess that's useful if you're trying to sneak around a whole court..." She sounds a bit dubious, but willing to be convinced.

"It's only okay for a character! Think about it... he has secrets, and as the reader gets through the story they learn with the girls that actually he's very gentle even as he is fierce and two-faced with the world... but if anyone ever hurts his beloved, he'll use every trick in the book to protect her... even if she doesn't realize it." Yeah, Nadeshiko's in her own little writer's fantasyland now. She's giggling, though, smiling so big it seeps into her voice. "It's fun to go a little bit overboard in stories. I think I'd like reading something like that, especially if it had a happy ending. How would you write that, Sriyani-chan?"