(D0, LE) Tea to Go

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji took a sip from his cup.

"Hmm, not too much more than that, really. You get the title for a year, to choose your first duty, and you are given the Topaz armor for the year. It's quite a suit of armor. It's been passed down from champion to champion for centuries. It is said to be imbued with the spirit of each of them, a beacon of hope and promise meant to bright light wherever it goes." he offers.

He sets the cup down.

"First duty depends a lot on how best the winner things they can serve in the capacity of champion. Unsurprisingly, a lot spend the year working with various Imperial organization: the Emerald Magistrates, Miya's Blessing, the Imperial Legions. I think even an imperial cartographer or two. Or working alongside very powerful figures such as the Imperial Herald. Whatever it is, it is certainly not boring."

[Shiba Haru]

Haru refilled their cups with the last of the sake, a look of concern and consideration on his face.

"I see."

With the drinks poured he placed his next stone but he was clearly distracted in thought and made an obvious error.

[Kakita Yuji]

And the error was capitalized on. Yuji might not look it, but he was surprisingly good at Go for a Crane.

"Ah that looks like the bottle and the game may be finished nearly at the same time, Shiba-san." he offered.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru refocused on the board and then leaned back with a smile on his face.

"It would seem so, not unexpected though as I have never beaten my brother or mother."

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji considered the Phoenix.

"Hmm, I suppose you and your brother have your own strengths no? Go is his, and dueling yours?" he put forth.

[Shiba Haru]

"My brother has many strengths, Go, Origami..."

Humbly he continued.

"..I am not without my talents they are just focused on my duties as a bushi. Not that Go is a purely leisure activity, my tactical training just leans more practical."

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji nods.

"Well you should each have a chance to shine in the tournament, though ther setup of events does traditionally favor bushi. Though there have been a decent number of shugenja topaz champions in the past." he offers.

[Shiba Haru]

"Your training seems like the best of both worlds, a well maintained balance."

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji chuckles.

"Well, my brothers were born too late for us to specialize." he jokes. "But they're still good boys. Perhaps someday in the future we'll serve together. But for now I can tease them a bit about getting my swords first."

There was a good-natured spirit to his comments, with a touch of melancholy He wasn't that much older than they were, and they had been close for many years.

[Shiba Haru]

"Well I can certainly appreciate a close relationship with ones siblings. In truth if I could choose I would serve as my brothers yojimbo for life. In reality however that will never happen, nor would they clan likely let me serve his betrothed. Really the only way it could happen is if..."

He hated to say the words, it was vanity to even consider it.

"..I became the Topaz champion, and even then I'm sure many would consider it beneath the Topaz Champion's station; being a simple yojimbo to an artisan. It is a nice dream but it is just that."

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji considered that for awhile.

"Hmm, even then, that would only earn you the duty for a year, not a lifetime." he said thoughtfully. "It would simply kick your problem down the road for a year."

He looked thoughtfully at the ceiling.

"What you really need is a person of influence who has enough sway to request both of you into their service. Someone your lord would not refuse. There are often such people in Tsuma both serving as judges or looking for talent for their own needs. Someone like Seppun Hitomi or Doji Shingo perhaps." he suggested casually.

[Shiba Haru]

"True, it is not impossible, but what of my brother's bride or his claim to our family home? I will not try and bend destiny to desire, those who have are often remembered for the worst of reasons. I am not so greedy as to even attempt it, I will simply have to accept that one day my brother and I will separate. Right now the idea feels like losing half my soul but that day has not come yet."

The sake was making him sentimental but he was holding it well beyond that.

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji considered the Phoenix's words carefully.

"Standing riverside,
rocks skip, reflections waver.
Tranquility soon."

he offers, finishing his cup.

[Shiba Haru]

Haru's lack of formal training showed as he struggled to grasp the meaning of the poem.

"I'm not sure tranquility is something one can count on finding, hunting for it can lead you father away and waiting for it risks wasting your life. Moments of tranquility can be found, I feel it in the moment of the strike and sipping tea with my brother, but lasting tranquility may need to wait for death."

[Kakita Yuji]

"True enough, Shiba-san," he was forced to agree, though the sake seemed to be making the Phoenix turn a bit maudlin. "Change is the only constant in life after all. Even long after the last ripple fades from the water's surface and the reflection is restored, the water is every so slightly different from the rock hidden from all far beneath the surface."

[Shiba Haru]

Haru was in fact feeling a bit lightheaded but was doing his best to fight it.

"Is there any event you are most looking forwarding to or hope will be announced? Aside from the dueling of course, I for one am hoping for some form of woodsman or hunting competition; outside of dueling it is one of my favored pastimes and I am curious as to how the local woodlands compare to those I grew up in."

[Kakita Yuji]

Haru was in fact feeling a bit lightheaded but was doing his best to fight it.

"Is there any event you are most looking forwarding to or hope will be announced? Aside from the dueling of course, I for one am hoping for some form of woodsman or hunting competition; outside of dueling it is one of my favored pastimes and I am curious as to how the local woodlands compare to those I grew up in."

Yuji smiled.

"Ah well the Tsu Fish hunt is a very traditional event of the Topaz Championship." he admits. "Dangerous creatures those are, if you believe the stories. Fish that walk upon venomous claws, lurking in the treetops waiting to jump upon the unwary."

"But I do enjoy hunting, as well as Go. We should have many chances to shine before the crowds."

[Shiba Haru]

Haru smiled playfully at the Kakita's words. "They sound like terrifying creatures this poisonous climbing fish, perhaps you can lead a hunt for them; I would love to test myself against such dangerous creatures."

[Kakita Yuji]

Haru smiled playfully at the Kakita's words. "They sound like terrifying creatures this poisonous climbing fish, perhaps you can lead a hunt for them; I would love to test myself against such dangerous creatures."

Yuji nodded.

"Of course, Shiba-san, I would be happy to. But for now, the sake is gone and the go stones are put away. I don't know if I can sleep tonight with the excitement of the tournament, but I should probably make the attempt." he said, preparing to go.

[Shiba Haru]

"Of course Kakita-san, I would not keep you from your rest as tomorrow is a big day for all of us. I suspect many will struggle with sleep tonight but thanks to the sake I don't think I will be one of them. Thank you for indulging my intrusion on your time, you are a wonderful host and I have enjoyed our time together greatly. I wish you great fortune in the trials to come."

He bowed low to the Crane.