[D5 EM, Jiro's Room] We Need To Talk?

[Shiba Jiro]

"And if all you feel is lust then deal with that how you see fit. I would suggest a cold bath and some exercise. I am intrigued by her and the way she sees life, and I hope to have a very close friend for life. There is attraction, sure, but that will not cause me to avoid spending time with someone I find interesting. Just as I am not avoiding spending time with Natsuko. She is lovely, interesting and I wish to know her better. But feelings are what they are and I will handle them as best I can."

[Shiba Haru]

"I honestly wish I didn't have the feelings I do right now, I don't need another distraction. In my case it's not acting on them to try and preserve a budding friendship, two really. But at the end of the day there are so many things on my mind that even getting rid of one distraction probably won't help. As far as lust goes, I've known how to handle that since we were ten so I've got that covered."

Haru's mood relaxed.

"I went to the market looking for seeds like you suggested, it didn't go very well but I plan on looking again this afternoon. Because they are just seeds I wondered if maybe you could paint a small flower on the bag when I get them, so Rin-san knows what they will look like."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Sure can," he says with a nod. "Just bring it on by when you get them. Actually... that reminds me."

He goes to dig out some paper.

"Kuroneko asked if I could make a couple cats that he could send some messages with."

He gets to work while talking.

[Shiba Haru]

"Thank you. Now I just need to figure out what to get Mitsuko-ch-SAN. Probably something for Yuji-san as well. I should really get something for Natsuko-san that isn't made by you, something from myself to welcome her to the family, or do you think that it's too early for that?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"Mitsuko-chan, eh?" He says with a smile, moving on after without poking into it.

"If you wanted we could do something together for Yuji-san. A painting? Perhaps one to commemorate the festival after it has passed? As for Natsuko-san, I will leave that up to you. If you have any ideas that you want to run by me, I'll gladly listen."

[Shiba Haru]

"Mitsuko-SAN is amazing, if this were a miai I would be spending every minute I could with her. We spent a quiet moment together in the dojo and she showed me her softer side and I had to stop myself from embracing her repeatedly. She is very confused though and...falling in love with Rin-san. Which puts me in the odd position of helping someone I am really interested in connect better with someone else I am interested in. Needless to say that was a rough night when I got back to my room.

She's just confused right now."

The last was said more to himself than his brother.

"But I would be happy to collaborate with you on something for Yuji-san but as I have yet to take a lesson from you in painting I'm not sure what I could contribute to that."

[Shiba Jiro]

"The nice thing about painting is that anyone can do it. We can have you paint the base and I can detail it. Your vision and idea, my eye to sharpen it up," he suggested.

[Shiba Haru]

"Hardly likely I could screw up a base coat, any thoughts on what would make an appropriate image for him?"

Haru's conjured an scene of Yuji in his mind but dismissed it.

[Shiba Jiro]

"Like I said, after the festival. Learn what he likes to do for fun?"

[Shiba Haru]

"Oh kami that's right the Crane are hosting an event."

Haru slammed his hand into his head.

"I need to find a gift for our hosts don't I? This is the part of courtly etiquette that I hate. A gift for a whole group of Crane...in Crane lands...crap."

[Shiba Jiro]

"For the feast later, yes." he said with a shrug.

[Shiba Haru]

"Oh man, I really should have paid more attention to those court classes. You must already have plans, what are you giving them?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"I'm making something. Though I would have thought that uncle would have given you something appropriate. I told him I would do something on my own."

[Shiba Haru]

"He did but I don't get what it is, he told me not to play with it or open it. It's a massive scroll that he said lists every Phoenix-Crane marriage, treaty and allied military engagement. It's pretty big and fairly fancy looking, the whole thing is a pale white even the wood. Wish I could read it but I will respect uncles commands.

But it doesn't feel very personal you know?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"Doesn't need to be. It's a gesture, not a personal overture. What I make will likely be displayed somewhere out of the way until someone fashionable comes along to replace it."

[Shiba Haru]

"So uh...do you think you and Natsuko would be interested in getting drinks with some people our last night here or do you think you will be spending some time in private before we depart?" There was no innuendo in his question just honest curiosity.

[Shiba Jiro]

"I don't know. It's a few days, and this is a busy time. It's hard to know how I'll feel then."

[Shiba Haru]

"That's fair, right now it's just me, Rin, Mitsuko and maybe Kasumi. Which sounds like either a great night or an awkward one."

[Shiba Jiro]

"We will see," he says with a smile.

[Shiba Haru]

"Now that I think about I better invite Yuji-san or somebody, someone I can talk to without thinking about...stuff the whole time. Crazy how few other guys I have met here. I haven't even met anyone from a non-coastal clan. Well except Akodo Michi-san but that went so poorly I wish it never happened. My hope of making a network of people from across the clans to work against violence seems to be dead at the Lion's doorstep."