(D5, LE) Another Time for Correspondence (closed)

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"You may." He says, scratching the table.
Letter was Shiba Akinori's basically saying that his nakodo found him a match to a Isawa maiden, although he feared for his bloodline since his mother was also known for poor health, but was the match that could be found in the short span and the incoming gempukku.

[Kakita Kenji]

(Is it stating if Aiichiro Marries outside the Crab or if the Maiden goes to the Crab?)

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

(OOC: Presumably so. She is a clan magistrate as well, as it should be in the letter).

[Kakita Kenji]

"Congratulations for a Match, Aiichiro-kun!" he said friendly, trying to probe for his reaction.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

He just looks at him as abohently as if he tried to poke a dead dog. "How so congratulations?"

[Kakita Kenji]

"Etiquette" he answered simply. "But it looks like you are not vey pleased with this result,... is this Match set in stone? Otherwise you may want to contact your nakodo again."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"It's a complicated situation. My nakodo isn't looking forward to see me happy, thanks for sure, unless Kaiu-domo bought him somehow. Which I thought that could be possible, because choosing a Scorpion as a matchmaker is very specific."

[Kakita Kenji]

"Wait, wait, wait, wait,... let me get this mess sorted. Your Lord, Kaiu-dono, organised you a Scorpion nakodo, to marry you outside the clan? Maybe the Scorpion is just a pawn in a greater Game. You said your father was a Phoenix? Maybe you familiy on the Phoenix side wants you to be a phoenix?" he pondered.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"My father sure wants indeed. He have been extremely supportive of me in... other matters... but on this one his opinion is set in stone and I can't even blame him for that. The second thing is that I'm valuable to my lord, whom I thought that wanted me inside the clan. The nakodo oficially obeys him, but maybe she thought she could buy his service. It seems to have failed, though. But maybe, yes, it is a greater game."

[Kakita Kenji]

"You feel defeated, do you?" Kenji asked. This was depressing for sure. Being groomed as a Warmaster, studying the Shadowlands and it's tactics, being introduced as a Nikutai, only to be married of to another clan.

Kenji thought about what he could do to support his friend. "You could write a letter of protest to you Lord, saying that your skills and training are to valuable to the crab and you wish to further defend the wall" Kenji said after some time. "Even though i can't guarantee that it will be succesfull"

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"It won't reach her in time. There is no point. It is one month of travel on foot between here and the Wall. Feeling defeated is... Little. I know I have value and can't blame him for wanting me on his clan at all costs. I... There is just one small hope on me that there is a trick. Like my lord promoting me to a clan magistrate as well right now to argue I should not be one to leave the clan."

[Kakita Kenji]

Kenji took another sip from his tea.

"Then you need to believe in you Lord to do so. The path ahead is covered in mist, it seems....."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

He mirrors the gesture, taking tea as well. "Hope everything goes well."
Some moments of silence and drumming fingers.
"Kenji-kun?"

[Kakita Kenji]

"Yes?" he answered

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"Sometimes, I... I try to say things, but not so directly, so I do the using other words to mean what you mean thing, but it never works."

[Kakita Kenji]

"Trying to be subtle is an artform in itself, my Sister Kakita Masuzu-Onee-san, masterd it, as she's a Diplomat of the Doji. But i think that's not what you had in mind,... What is it my friend, that burdens your heart?" he asked

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"It's just that sometimes..." He looked to the side and took a sip of tea. "Upon seeing the remainign of the empire, if the remaining of the empire is this... I would rather stay in the Wall."

[Kakita Kenji]

"We Crane and Scorpion are know for this kind of,... art mostly because most of us need to navigate through the imperial courts. The Phoenix are more,.. scholary? When i spoke with Saburo-san or Haruki-san i was more under the impression of them being more direct than my cousins. But i can understand your worries."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"It's not even that. The word art is just troubling because Crab can't get it, but is something I can do without. It's just that... In the remaining of the empire, I just fould foolishness and dishonor. Do you know what I talk about?""

[Kakita Kenji]

"ohh, yes i know what you mean. It's a different battlefield than the wall,... less honest? These kinds of battles are fought in the upper parts of the empire. Certantly we're all involved in them, either as player or as pawn, most often than not, both."