About Last Night (closed)

[Moto Ichiro]

ichiro smiled "I would hope to see you again as soon as possible, we only have a little but of time left here. And getting time more or less alone with you during the tournament would be a very nice break to the stress of competing."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"Two days," Nobuko murmured, sighing again. She did not want it to end so soon. "And they feel like they are getting busier. I have had barely any time for myself today... I am happy to be here, sharing it with you. I will try to find more tomorrow. And more the next. Even if only for a few moments. When we leave... we could travel together back to Otasan Uchi."

The group would already be doing so - she assumed, since they had done so to get there in the first place. But they could angle to spend the day's travel in each other's company rather than strung out among the rest.

[Moto Ichiro]

The large boy nodded "I think I would like that Nobu-chan. Give us at least a little more time together before we hard shipped back to our dojos."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"And perhaps you can give me another riding lesson? For an hour or so? You could sit behind me and ensure my form is proper." She was rather keen on sharing a saddle with him under the guise of learning.

[Moto Ichiro]

His smile grew a bit "I think i'd like that very much Nobu-chan, more hands on teaching would likely be very beneficial you seem like you'll do well but you've gt a long way to go before we're riding across the open plains together."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"And in return, I shall make you art," she whispered, pulling away from him so she could reach into her sleeve and pull out an origami frog. It was much the same as the one she'd left at shrine a couple days ago - which had been the best of the 'practice' frogs. This one was the final product of a few days of getting the feet just right. "I know you have said you do not have an appreciation for them. But I think you will enjoy what I am capable of. This one even jumps!"

[Moto Ichiro]

he chuckled and sighed looking at her work "You are too good to be wasting your efforts on a brute like me that doesn't understand it. But I do understand effort and sentiment both of which I am grateful for." he said gently taking the little frog from her "The other frog you gave me is doing well, he's not as as smart as Zurui here so he has to stay in his cage most of the time but I like him."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"You don't have to understand art to appreciate it," she replied. "You can like or dislike it and not have to understand a thing."

Nobuko folded her hands at her waist, "And I made this one so you might be better able to let the other go back to his home. While Zurui is very keen to be with you... I will not fault you if you wish to keep him, still. But I was thinking about it. And perhaps he is meant to be free."

The 'like you' was on the tip of her tongue, but she held back from saying it. Comparring Ichiro to a frog might be going a little far, even if it was just in the way they were meant to live.

[Moto Ichiro]

"If it puts your heart at ease I have no problem releasing him. Freedom is what my clan is founded on after all." He said with a laugh his other hand resting on her arm.

"But there is much art in Khanbulak, I've never been too interested in it but im sure you would see things that really interested you. Some of the gaijin art styles are very interesting."

[Otomo Nobuko]

She was curious if they held any merits. Of course, the celestial order was very clear that they could not be anywhere near as important as what is well and truly Rokugani, but that did not mean there might not be something interesting there.

"I am certain that some of the them must be beautiful," Nobuko said. About the only thing she really worried about was the food and furs. Even if she was able to join him in marriage, she knew she wouldn't be able eat red meat as he did. Or wear something dead against her skin. She might be able to wear it if it was squashed beneath several layers of silk... but even then, she'd have to check with some priests about whether or not that would risk her being unclean.

She turned to look around, moving her hand so she could hold his loosely while they continued to find privacy.

"Are there many in Khanbulak who have come from other clans? That is the seat of power for the Moto. But I am not familiar with how many who have married in, have done so into your family. If there are even a few, then I will surely have someone to help guide me in learning the differences."

[Moto Ichiro]

ichiro thought for a moment "Well mom was a Doji before marrying dad, I think one of my uncles used to be a Shiba, um a cousin married in from the mantis I think. There are also some minor functionaries from other clans diplomats and such. I wouldn't worry about it too much we live a certain way but we don't force it on others, my mother mostly wears kimonos and such just purple instead of blue now."

He paused and looked at her for a moment his eyes moving down and up her form "Youd look very good in purple i think." He says with a smile.

[Otomo Nobuko]

"Of course I will. I look good in any color," she agreed, confidently. "Though I will likely only wear purple for formal events. I am rather partial to whites and greens. I am glad to know your mother shares the same clan of birth as mine. That will make connecting with her easier, I hope."

[Moto Ichiro]

Ichiro chuckled "ah there is that sense of humility." He teased "but thats fine as you said you do look good in any color." He finished giving her hand a light squeeze.

"Mother is very traditional, hence my name as their first born son, I love her even if we do not see eye to eye on everything. At the end of the day we know how to just let each other be ourselves. I think you'd like her."

[Otomo Nobuko]

"Mine was very traditional as well."

Her name did mean 'Faithful Daughter'.

"...are you going to pick a different name at your gempukku?"

[Moto Ichiro]

Ichiro nodded "naturally, dont most samurai chose a new name after their gempukku?"

[Otomo Nobuko]

"...I think it's about half and half either way," she answered, not really sure. "Many with names like ours do, but it's not always assured. Some rather like the names their parents gifted them. Some are gifted names easily parted with. I have considered changing mine to simply Nobu... but also to a name that my future spouse is partial to, which might reflect their clan or family in some manner. To honor them. I have not decided. I will be more certain when my gempukku is upon me."

[Moto Ichiro]

"Zhang has been the name i was leaning towards." The sound was a little hard and certainly not traditional Rokugani "It means strength in my people's tongue." The name suited the boy in a way.

[Otomo Nobuko]

"You are very strong. It would take some time to learn to say properly," she said, considering it. "Changh." It did not roll off the tongue as easily as Ichiro did. ...and she wasn't exactly pronouncing it correctly, but she was clearly trying.

"When you are certain of your choice, I will practice it every day so I may greet you properly."