Session Three; Winning is Everything

Morasahi sifted through her traveling pack fretting over what sort of gift she was going to present to her host tonight. She hadn’t brought much along with her, she wasn’t planning on staying longer than the rest of her traveling party but now she found herself invited to a dinner with one from the Imperial family and nothing to show her gratitude for the invitation. Morasahi emptied out her bag and threw the sack itself on the ground. Nothing. It had to be something good, something unique; you couldn’t just give anything to someone of such high status. Something that she highly valued wouldn’t work either, it would come across as an insult because who was she to offer an Otomo a worn and loved item like her Go set? She was nobody.

She racked her brain, there had to be some bit of knowledge in there that could give her a footing for this situation. She had studied heraldry, and although she didn’t know family lines past the last few generations, maybe there was some insight she had overlooked. Otomo… Mainly compromised of tacticians, something she could relate to; that didn’t help. Let’s see, wasn’t there a famous courtier Otomo? Yeah! What was her name? Kuri? Kimi? Otomo Kirumi! That was it. Now what? Morasahi wasn’t a courtier, and although she understood the basics of etiquette she didn‘t understand court very well, or those who attended it. A name wasn’t going to be enough to offer as a gift. There was no way she would conjure up a poem before dinner, and probably even less of a chance she would be able to recite it. She tried to imagine what people in court did. All the women and men of court standing around, playing their word games, reciting rhetoric, hiding behind their fans. That was it, their fans! It was the perfect embodiment of a courtier. It also would pair nicely as a tribute to Otomo Kirumi. Now to find a fan that suited the situation.

Morasahi left her tent on a mission. Get a fan. Find Asako Yuji to paint the name onto it. Let it dry. Mission completed. First up was the fan. Morasahi entered the first shop that actually had an indoor area. There were many vendors with carts, but this fan had to be special and a cart just meant there would be more chance for dirt to get on it. There were some to shop, most designed in the Scorpion style, but nothing that really stuck out to her. Scorpion colors wouldn’t do at all, that’s not really the message you wanted to be sending someone who was standing in for the Empress. The next shop had a large selection, but still nothing that was truly unique. There was one with birds that perhaps could work. Morasahi picked it up and played with the ribs. It was too flimsy. Another fan had a river that just looked off in some way. Perhaps it was the way the colors only covered a quarter of the fan. She pressed her lips, convinced she wasn’t going to find something grand enough. Plucking a fan with a sunset painted on it, Morasahi waved to the clerk and presented her seal with her name on it. The sunset would have to do.

She sighed inwardly as she headed back to her camp. A day’s notice wasn’t long, but she had to make due with what she had. At least she was bringing a gift, she had at least that much sense. Matsu, on the other hand… Morasahi was almost certain she would show up empty handed and still dressed in her battle armor. The Lion were a strange bunch and the Beastmasters even more so. They were the most untamed of their ranks, oblivious to social graces. And the Spider, Morasahi didn’t even want to consider what Daigotsu would bring as a gift. The severed head of her enemy or something equally as blasphemous.

She found Yuji near his tent playing Go against Agasha Tsunai. Tsunai had no chance. Yuji was rather talented at everything he did, and Morasahi saw him as an equal competitor to her when it came to Go. Tsunai was too eager in her movements, always rushing into defeat. Morasahi stood nearby and watched; the game wouldn’t last much longer.

“You can play me next, Shiba-san,” Yuji offered without even looking at her. It wasn’t as if she was hiding, but it always amazed her how much he noticed. “Agasha is only six moves from her last.”

Tsunai stared at Yuji, stopping mid-placement of her stone. “How can you say that, Asako?”

“Four,” Morasahi piped up. Both of them looked at her. “Y-you could have Agasha-san in… four… moves.”

Yuji examined the board intently, leaning forward. He nodded, “So I can.”

Tsunai tossed her hands up in the air and pushed away from the board. “What’s the point in finishing if you two already know I have no chance? It’s not even fun anymore.” She dropped her stone onto her pile of white pieces and stormed off. Yuji shrugged and began clearing the board; he looked to be amused with himself, or at least the situation.

“Looks like you’re up, Shiba-san.”

It was a tempting offer. Morasahi always enjoyed facing Yuji, he was contemplative and adaptable. He was actually challenging when it came down to finding a way to take the win. But Morasahi played Yuji for a different reason. Yuji made it fun. He wasn’t out to beat her, and was a humble winner as much as he was a tactful loser. He played in a way that Morasahi couldn’t really put into words; he was always relaxed, like it was a way to disconnect from the world for him. He made Go into an art form like everything he did in life. And she could feel it too, when she sat opposite of Yuji, across that board, it was almost like meditating.

“I-um… I can’t.”

Yuji turned towards her, interest on his face. “Oh?”

“I… I’m getting ready for a… dinner. I needed your-um, your help… with… a gift.” She brandished the fan. “Could you-um… write a name on here for me?”

Yuji agreed with a smile. “Of course, Shiba-san. Anything for you.” Morasahi felt herself blush and hurriedly looked at the ground.

Morasahi waited while Yuji entered his tent and collected his calligraphy set. She knew better than to walk into a man’s tent without a chaperone. Not that she worried about her sanctity, she could easily take care of herself and she didn’t think Yuji would be that sort of man; it was just a rule, a part of life, and Morasahi liked following the rules. It didn’t take long before he returned with his Four Treasures of the Study, a term used to denote a full calligraphy set. Yuji opened the case and began setting up, grinding ink into the well in the inkstone, then adding water. Morasahi watched with reserved fascination. Yuji handled everything so delicately. Once set up he raised his hand towards Morasahi. She stared at him a moment, completely forgetting she still held the fan.

“Shiba-san, I need the fan to write upon.” He smiled again.

“Of course.” She gave Yuji the fan, “It’s a gift for… um… the Otomo in presence. I wanted Otomo Kirumi centered on the sunset with the-um, the Imperial seal below it.”

Yuji stared at her. “You’re dining with Otomo-dono?”

“Yes?” She squeaked.

“Wow, Shiba-san, I’ll do my very best on this.” Yuji set the fan aside and withdrew a few sheets of paper he carried inside his case, practicing Otomo Kirumi’s name them.

After a half-dozen practice attempts that Morasahi thought were already perfect, he finally started on her fan. Promising to watch it while it dried, so nothing ill-fated would befall the honored gift, Yuji ushered Morasahi off to get changed as it was already late afternoon going onto early evening. Morasahi took her time readying. She dressed in her finest kimono, well, the finest one she had with her, and redid her hair at least three times. Finally she collected her fan from Yuji, with his compliments on her exquisite appeal, and headed to the mayor’s house to join the rest of the group for dinner.

Morasahi was escorted into the moderate house and seated at a moderate table. The house wasn’t as big as she had imagined it would be, but then again this town was quite small compared to the aligned cities Shiba was used to. She also took into consideration that the whole house was probably emptied for Otomo, and only him. In that case it was a rather large place to bed down in for travel. Asahina was already there, dressed as she would have expected a Crane to dress. His outfit was nearly as elegant as hers, and men’s kimonos usually weren’t as decorative as a female’s. He was always showing her up, just like her sister. She scowled mentally at the thought, the embittered feelings threatening to bubble up.

Kitsuki arrived next, looking much the same as he always did. His clothes may have been a little more lavish than usual, but he always seemed to take great care in the way he presented himself. Matsu was then brought in, nearly last to arrive, just like lunch. And what was she wearing? Morasahi couldn’t help but gape at Matsu’s outfit, it was almost disgraceful. Matsu was wearing a low-cut kimono, showing off flesh reserved for intimate occasions. Her obi was also wrapped low, accentuating her hips, and the whole outfit was hugging tightly to Matsu’s body. It was in the Lion colors, but the dress was definitely a Bayushi styled cut. It would figure. It at least explained the sheer veil Matsu also wore across her face and the tiny scorpions embroidered on the hems of her sleeves and dress.

It was only a matter of minutes with the four of them sitting there silent as the grave before a man whose outfit put them all to shame entered. His kimono bore the mon of the Otomo, signifying him as their host. Morasahi didn’t need to see his sigil to know it was him. The way he carried himself, the air about him, this was what the upper echelons looked and acted like. She was almost embarrassed to be in the company of Matsu during this dinner with the way that she looked. And Daigotsu hadn’t even shown up yet, did she even realize what that signified? Morasahi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She was nervous on her own, she didn’t need the rest of the group to shame themselves and make her anymore so.

Otomo opened his hands in greeting, “Welcome everyone.”

Morasahi bowed and kept her mouth shut. Kitsuki had mentioned that no one should really be talking except for him, since some of them were less suited for the art of conversation. She knew Kitsuki had meant her, Matsu, and Daigotsu, it wasn’t hard to figure out who he was talking about.

“Evening Otomo-dono,” Kitsuki responded.

“I’m sure you’re all curious as to why you are here as… we are missing someone.” Otomo said slowly.

“Ah, yes.” Kitsuki sounded nervous. Kitsuki hadn’t ever sounded nervous to Morasahi. He cleared his throat and continued, “Daigotsu-sama sends her regards, I’m afraid she’s quite indisposed. Um… She intended to make it, but was feeling far from well.”

“That is a slight inconvenience, but I’ve already spoken with each of your clans on the matter so her absence isn’t a hindrance. We are setting up a border post since the Spider can now claim lands. We’ve given them lands west of the Scorpion lands, which would include this area. This will be a border town, a place for… all of the clans to interact. And since each of you is from a different clan, and you were already here, your clans offered you up as dignitaries.”

Morasahi bit her tongue. She wasn’t a dignitary, why would she have been chosen for this? She was the last possible person she would have picked for the job out of the entire Phoenix who had come to the tournament. And to have to interact with the Spider? She tried not to shudder. They were cannibalistic murderers. Vile Jigoku worshippers. One was bad enough, but soon the town would be crawling with them if they were claiming this land and Morasahi didn’t want to be anywhere near the festering web they created.

“That is a great honor, Otomo-dono,” Kitsuki responded for everyone. “May I ask why we were chosen for such an honor?”

“It varies from clan to clan. You would have to ask your own clan champion.”

“Very well,” Responded Kitsuki. “What will we be responsible for in our position?”

“We will be building a castle here, a kyuden, and you will be responsible for one of the first joint Winter Courts with the Spider Clan involved.”

Morasahi blinked slowly. She prayed she didn’t hear that right. The Spider were going to hold Winter Court? What a ridiculous notion. She didn’t want to see what sort of perverse tournaments they held. Or what food they were going to serve… This time she couldn’t hold back the shudder.

“The Topaz Champion will be head of this endeavor, and each of you will serve as a minor shogunate under him,” Added Otomo. Of course, Morasahi thought. Granted, she didn’t want to be a part of this at all, but she was yet again passed up by someone else, and it had to be Asahina.

“It’s an honor I have no words for.” Asahina played the humble act well.

“We will be eating shortly,” Otomo announced, indicating it had reached the gift-giving time. Morasahi pulled out her fan, opened it and offered it to Otomo.

“I have brought you a fan with the Otomo family crest, honoring the name of Otomo Kirumi,” She said without stuttering once. Morasahi was glad she had been rehearsing since she decided on the gift.

“It is far too fine a fan, I must refuse,” Otomo began the ritual of declining twice.

“I insist.”

“I assure you, a gift of that stature would be well above my station to accept.”

“I had this made specifically for tonight. Please accept it.”

“Thank you graciously for your gift.” He collected the fan from Morasahi and turned it over in his hands.

Kitsuki recited a poem. It was actually quite lovely and Otomo agreed. Asahina offered a display of his dueling prowess. Asahina was turning into a one trick pony.

“I would enjoy that,” Otomo smiled. “Please, duel the Shiba again. Your skills are of great renown, and we have an adequate duelist here as well.”

Morasahi grumbled, but kept her face plain. This night was going from bad to worse. First, she was instructed she would basically live with the Spider clan. Then she was passed over in favor of Asahina. And now she had to duel Asahina again, and she caught the slight Otomo had made about her ‘adequate’ skills. She didn’t even have her katana with her, which meant she would probably have to use some sword of questionable quality in place of it.

“We can set up some lanterns and do it right outside.” Otomo smiled and waved his hand towards some servants who made their way out of the room as soon as he gestured.

The group herded outside where Morasahi was given a katana. It wasn’t bad quality, decent enough to be used. Asahina was also given a weapon. At least they were matched with the shoddiness of their swords. Morasahi chose her position though there really wasn’t a good place to stand out there. The ground was uneven, being a commonly used street and the lanterns shone in her eyes no matter which side of the area she stood. She took a breath and watched Asahina; she’d seen him fight more than a couple of times so she knew what most of his strengths were. The problem was he didn’t seem to have any weaknesses. His stance was good and she knew she couldn’t compete if he decided to use his full potential. Morasahi already felt defeated and they hadn’t even begun. Now she knew how Tsunai felt earlier when Yuji and she had made the comments on Tsunai’s lack of skills at Go. This was humiliating in that she had to participate when it was obvious she wouldn’t emerge the victor.

Asahina flashed by Morasahi. It must have been the shadows Asahina moved through causing him to look so speedy because he definitely seemed faster than yesterday. She didn’t even get the chance to swing; he was already past her by the time she noticed he was moving. She hadn’t felt him hit her, which only meant he must have cut her best kimono somewhere. With a sigh she looked down, ready to check her sleeves, but there was no point in that. Above her heart there was a swatch missing, and upon the ground lay her family mon. Her best kimono.

“Still impressive, no matter how many times you see it.” Otomo smiled.

Morasahi fumed as she made her way back into the house, handing her weapon off to the first servant that she passed by. She wasn’t even certain who she had given the sword to, she was too livid to care. She took her seat and waited for the rest to make their way back in, clenching her fists under the table. It was one thing to have to be subjected to a duel where she was clearly outmatched; it was another for Asahina to cut her kimono to shreds. Dinner was brought out; Morasahi ate her meal in silence brooding over her new lot in life. It was much like the old path, Asahina besting her at every opportunity like her sister had. And now she had to work under him. Dinner passed without much attention given from Morasahi. Sake was brought out to accompany the conversation that ensued after the meal. Finally the night ended and Morasahi took her leave with all respect given that was expected of her. She hoped to wake up tomorrow, with this whole evening having been a terrible dream. Morasahi knew she wouldn’t be so fortunate.