Having found a quiet table, Sakura waited patiently. Wearing her second finest kimono, her white hair pulled back tightly into a bun at the nape of her neck. A pot of breakfast tea on the table and while her hands had wrapped around her cup, it was largely forgotten. Her thoughtful gaze held at the doorway to the Red Lotus intently.

What would Tenshin think of why she asked him to meet her here today, with the Seppun, no less? Sakura didn't know yet.

Urusai arrives in his good clothes, the brown and gold of the Seppun trimmed with emerald green, and is directed to the appropriate table. There, he bows deeply to Sakura, smiling nervously as he rises. "I am here, of course. May I?"

He gestures to a seat, waiting for the nod.

She nodded back, meeting his gaze with a friendly smile, "Of course, um, Seppun-sama. There will always be room at my table for you?"

Urusai nods again and seats himself--notably, at a right angle to her right.

"So, here we are," he says. "Are you sure you want to do this? To arrange...the rest of our lives?"

"I do. But I'm also, cognisant? enough? to realise it's not exactly our decision? All we can do is ...this? really?"
It takes an act of willpower not to reach out to touch him.
"Are you?"

Urusai's hand twitches towards hers, but he stops it, instead reaching into his sleeve and pulling out a smallish box. Placing it on the table, he remarks "I found some tea I hope your brother will appreciate; the bazaar had just what I hoped for."

She nods slowly, wearing a typically shy smile, "I'm sure it's perfect and he'll appreciate it. Oh! Speaking of, can I pour you some tea, um, Seppun-sama?" she motions to the waiting pot.

"I am happy to have you fill a cup for me," Urusai says.

He carefully folds his hands onto the table, some strain evident in them as he tries to keep them still rather than fidget incessantly.

His cup is poured carefully, and held out to him. It's then that she lets her thumb brush the back of his hand discreetly, of course, but she holds his gaze with an uptick to one corner of her mouth is a decidedly less-shy smirk.

Urusai blushes slightly, but he says "I receive it with thanks," and he takes the cup up. Lifting it to his lips, he sips, sighs, and says "I think this is a different blend. Somewhat heavier." He nods. "Bracing. It's a good choice."

The hat of power of Asahina Tenshin is the first thing anyone notices when he walks into the Red Lotus. His yojimbo does not accompany him at this time, and the serious, yet not without humor man walks towards the table with the two already engrossed in conversation.

"Sakura-chan." He bows to his younger sister, smiling at her. "It's nice that you've gotten the chance to invite me for dinner, I know things are hectic with you competing in the tournament." Then addressing the young Seppun. "Seppun-san. Congratulations on your showing thus far. You're doing very well."

"Hardly hectic, but still I'm sorry it's taken so long to see you! Um! It's good to, uh... see you..." Awkward Sakura is awkward, maybe especially so with her brother. "Please sit! Um. Tea?"

Urusai swiftly puts down his teacup, rises, and bows sharply.

"Asahina-bugyo! Thank you for noticing!"

His voice is just a touch too loud, eager youth threatening to make it crack.

Straightening, he adds, "Er, thank you for agreeing to meet with me--us!"

The Magistrate bows to the Seppun, then turns to Sakura, his smile warm and brilliant. "There's nothing to be sorry for. My duties have kept me busy as well, so I haven't been as present for the competitions as much as I would like." He laughs, sitting at the table with the youthful pair.

"It's my pleasure to join you both, Seppun-san. Any friend of Sakura-chan's is a friend of mine. And yes, tea sounds lovely."

Urusai resumes his seat after the magistrate does and says "That Asahina-bugyo enjoys tea is an auspicious sign, for of such is this token of appreciation for his service and example, offered in a hopeful spirit" as he lifts the small box and presents it to Tenshin in both hands. He will go through the rituals of refusal and re-offer as needed, although GM bandwidth and the coming dayflip suggest that glossing them might be in the interest of all involved.

And afterward, he will resume his cup of tea, which will necessarily have cooled somewhat--which is to the good, because Urusai's throat will be quite dry, and he will need to drink swiftly to wet it again.

Tea is sipped and enjoyed, and Sakura glances back and forth from her brother to the Seppun- although they both might notice her eyes linger on the Imperial's face for a beat or two longer.
She minds the gift giving ceremony. Afterwards, "Um, our uh, friendship? is what we wanted to talk about? with you?"


(Feel free to skip me as needed to keep the thread moving!)

Urusai nods.

"Indeed that, Asahina-bugyo," he says. "Or rather that we were wondering if we could make it something more than friendship, feeling called that way and neither of us, to our knowledge, being otherwise committed."

He bows his head again, swallows deeply, breathes. The voice in his mind bids him steel himself. "If it were possible, it would be requested that we begin matchmaking arrangements--and since Asahina-bugyo is the most eminent representative of his bloodline present, the initial request would be made to him--and is."

He straightens, and though he keeps his eyes respectfully lowered, his face is fully towards Tenshin, awaiting what may come.

Seppun Urusai wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 01, 2021 8:55 pm

Urusai resumes his seat after the magistrate does and says "That Asahina-bugyo enjoys tea is an auspicious sign, for of such is this token of appreciation for his service and example, offered in a hopeful spirit" as he lifts the small box and presents it to Tenshin in both hands. He will go through the rituals of refusal and re-offer as needed, although GM bandwidth and the coming dayflip suggest that glossing them might be in the interest of all involved.

And afterward, he will resume his cup of tea, which will necessarily have cooled somewhat--which is to the good, because Urusai's throat will be quite dry, and he will need to drink swiftly to wet it again.

Tenshin would go through the ritual of receiving the gift with all the practice of any student of Doji. After the final refusal, he tenderly takes the box in his hands. "Seppun-san, you have a prescience for gifts. This is truly wonderful." He bowed his head again, then set the box on the table beside his hand.

Listening to the pair, his eyebrows raise in surprise. A slight flush to his features, while his eyes dart. "Ah. I see." Again his focus shifts between his sister and the Seppun.

"I... well... I do not know if I am the one that can truly set that in motion. More than adding the weight of my words in a letter to our Lord, and family." He clears his throat, regaining his composure.

"I see no reason to stand in the way, or object. Clearly, both of your Lords have seen fit to send you to this most auspicious of tournaments and gempukkus. And with your performance already, Seppun-san, only adds more merit to the pairing." He nodded.

"I will begin the correspondence."

Urusai scoots back from the table far enough to do it, and he folds into a full zarei, placing his left hand on the ground before his right.

"Deepest and humblest thanks to Asahina-bugyo for his assistance," he says while bowed. Straightening and returning to the table, he adds "It is beyond doubt that the words of a magistrate will carry much influence with his good lord and parents."

He steals a glance at Sakura, and the merest hint of a smile quirks the corner of his lip as he forces his hands to be still again.

She smiled at that, before pressing lips together to temper her joy. In truth she could've leapt over the table and hugged Tenshin so hard...
"Thank you, thank you, thank you... Truly, sweetest brother," Sakura said softly. Their mother and father would certainly agree if the recommendation came from him, after all.
When Urusai looks to her, she meets his gaze and an eyebrow ticks upward, wide smile threatening to take hold.