The New Winds

As they headed from the forge to class, Zashi had taken a moment to brush my Kenji, asking him to meet after class. Now, the redhead waited, expecting that the Kakita would come, in one way or the other.

Kenji was skeptical, did the fox want to lead him behind the ear? But he couldn't not accept the invitation, he wasn't a coward.

Kenji went to the agreed meeting place. He bowed shallow with the words: "Zashi-San"

"Kakita-san" Zashi bows back, quickly rising. "I couldn't help but realize that you seem a bit agitated by me. I wanted to see if I had caused you offense."

"Did you get that feeling?"

Kenji looked around, there were no other students around.

"It's simple, I don't trust you, and I have doubts about your.... interest in Sakura-San"

"You have no reason to doubt my interest in her." Zashi replies mildly. "I am very interested in Sakura-san. She is very interesting, no?"

Zashi offers a pause, and then sighs. "Might I ask why you don't trust me? Are you thinking that I'm sweeping her off her feet with my wealth of age and experience, manipulating an innocent, sweet, naive girl to...what, climb up the social ladder?"

"I don't care about your social standing, Zashi-san, who she marries is no more mine than your decision. no matter how much you seduce her, if your goal is social advancement, you are already going the wrong way. in the end, favors and promises will decide who will be her husband, not feelings," Kenji said with a derogatory tone.

"And, if your example is like your intentions, I have every doubt of your honesty of feeling towards her"

Zashi pauses, seems to think and then lets out a belly laugh. "You said it with your own words: if I cared about my own social standing, I would be doing it the wrong way. Do you think that I am, in any way, not painfully conscious of the gulf between that. Betrothal is not about love to a samurai. There are familial concerns as well, and I think that I can all but guarantee that issues I run into dwarf yours."

"I like being around Sakura because she' is full of life. She's absolutely brilliant in the forge, even if the rankings don't show it. From what she has told me, she is painfully self-conscious about the expectations that your Clan has, and makes it hard for her to believe how good she is, even when people keep telling her repeatedly." Zashi gestures to themself. "I certainly didn't do that"

Kenji crossed his arms, did Zashi really laugh at him now?

"You must ride a very high horse, Zashi-san. The Crane Clan has high expectations of everyone. That's the only way we can grow beyond our borders, or do you think Sakura-San's skills have flown to her. No, it didn't. I agree with you that she's full of life, and,... despite the high expectations, is still as she is, is a wonder in itself. But that's why she needs protection. Protection from you."

All humor vanishes from Zashi's face. "What is it you think that I am going to do to her?"

"For all I know, you could have been the one who planted the masks. You and this spirit were all too familiar. You may be a Shugenja, but who tells me that you didn't make a pact with one of these beings, power and favor of the spirit beings in exchange for the souls of innocent children, maybe? If anyone is subject to the mask, it is Sakura-san, especially if you distract her."

Zashi blinks once, and then again. "Wait..." The redhead slowly starts wagging a finger, not in accusation but understanding. "You think...Ohhhhhhhhhh." Zashi is quiet for a moment. "Alright, then. I see what you're worried about."

The redhead lets out a very long sigh. "Well, she's already talked to the sensei about it. You and Kaito-san have already begun to look into the effects. Yes, they are dangerous if used willy nilly, but that's anything magical...or with a weapon for that matter. As for my magical source...well, you won't trust me just telling you, you should do the research yourself. But the Kitsune clan has a history of intermarrying...with foxes. You heard the cat. She called me a fox and hated me, because I have Fox blood in me. Whatever game that cat was playing, it was of no design or goal of mine. Research it yourself if you like."

"But know this: kami help whoever tries to hurt her, because they will have me making their lives as miserable as possible."

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Zashi seemed honest. They may not have been the best words a samurai had ever spoken, but they were honest.

"I will probably have to deal with the matter more. Your clan's customs seem very different from our clan's, but still..."

Kenji put on a serious face

"I take your word, Zashi-san, the same goes for you,... May the kami forgive you if she gets hurt because of you, because I won't.

The two young samurai had the same goal, not the same motives, but the same goal.

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D4 Serpent Sincerity/Awa: 3d10o10k2 14

Zashi nods, feeling a weight lifted off their chest.

I honestly thought it was over something else entirely.

Kenji nodded.

As long as nothing happens to Sakura-san and she is happy, so be it, he thought.