The New Winds

The full moon hung high in the sky, illuminating a small figure. His finery coated in a thin layer of mud, Dao sat on the stoop of a small storehouse.

His eyes were dry, yet his mood was not. He had thought he was following the leads presented, her words were clear - or so he thought.

At least he could try and write it off as the lasr actions of a boy, and not the first actions of a man. Well, at least to himself, society would likely judge him harshly for it regardless.

"Togashi-san"

Oichi's voice called out as the woman walked quickly from the estate, searching for the boy.

The sound of her voice, that voice, it compelled him to both run and hide and simultaneously run towards it. He was torn.

But after a moment's thought, he decided. The embarrassment of a few minutes ago was the end of his boyhood, and as a man he would not run from his demons. Standing up, and tring to scrape up a little of the mud, Dao stepped out of the shadows of the building.

"Utaku-sensei. You're missing the party." He stated somewhat obviously, unsure of what else to say.

"And so are you! What were you thinking!"

She approaches him and sits down next to him, close.

"You must always remember your place! This is not somewhere that such an action can be done."

Before Oichi sits, Dao removes his silken top and lays it , inside out, beneath her to spare her outfit from the mud.

"I...misread our conversation, I am sorry. I will apologize to Kakita-dono and his court tomorrow. Make sure the stain of my actions does not sully your honour."

"I WAS flirting with you, Dao-kun. But I thought you had the sense to know when to restrain yourself. Even in Unicorn lands, such open displays outside of proper times are frowned upon.A formal dinner is most certainly not a proper time."

Dao-kun?!?!

His mind tried to focus, but he couldn't get past those two little words.

"The last action of an immature child, I guess it will live in infamy in certain circles. Don't suppose you have an opening in the Moto armies for a lout such as me? A new man, a new slate?"

"An adult faces their mistakes, not run from them."

She sighs and looks up at the sky, the large moon glowing in her eyes.

"I am just as at fault as you here. I should never have teased you so. You just make it so easy to talk to and let my guard down with. Not something I expected, especially not from one 5 years my younger."

"I've been told I have an old soul, if that sets your mind at ease?" Dao replied, his eyes drawn irresistibly to the way the moonlight drew out the perfection of her face.

"I never quite noticed your eyes sparkle as much as they do right now." He whispered breathlessly, unable to stop his heart speaking without filter.

She looks to him and gives a fond smile

"Does your lord still intend to send you to Unicorn lands now that you have become an adult?"

"Unless he thinks a more beneficial match could be made marrying a Unicorn into our ranks. Although if word of tonight spreads, I imagine my stock will plummet vastly."

"All I can hope is that a certain few, won't judge me by a single misstep." He reaches out and lays his hand atop hers. "At least, a certain one."

She does not pull back, and instead turns her hand over so the two can cup palms and intertwine fingers.

"You'll need an appropriately Unicorn name, you know."

"Are there conventions that should be followed? Is a Moto name different than an Iuchi name? Or,"

He squeezes Oichi's hand gently. "An Utaku name?"

"Each of the families have their own ways, yes. It would take some time to explain them all, though."

"Do I look like I'm going anywhere?" He answered with a simple smile.

"Let me begin by listing some common names within the Unicorn then..."

((Altan, Monkhbat, Altansarnai, Munkhtsetseg, Altantestesg, Naranbaatar, Bataar, Narangerel, Batbayar, Narantsetseg, Batu, Nekhii, Bayarmaa, Nergüi, Bolormaa, Och, Chimeg, Od, Chingis, Odgerel, Chinua, Odval, Chuluun, Oktai, Dzhambul, Otgonbayar, Enkhjargal, Qara, Enkhtuya, Sarangerel, Ereden, Sarnai, Eredenechimeg, Sukh, Erhi, Tarkhan, Gan, Temujin, Ganbaatar, Tsetseg, Ganbold, Tuya, Gantulga, Uranchimeg, Geriel, Uuliinyagaantsetseg, Jochi, Yul, Khulan, Xandu

Do a search on your favorite search engine for meanings))

Dao muses over the names proposed and carefully considers his choices.

"How does Utaku Sarkhan sound?"

She thinks it over for a few moments, saying the name a few times for the feel of it.

"I like it. "

"You like it...for now? Or for the next forty years?" He asks after watching her delicate mouth frame the word a few times.

She takes some time to answer, beofre giving a kind, gently smile and looking Dao in the eyes says...

"Yes"