(D0, LM) A Reminder of Better Days

[Kakita Yuji]

It was the most disgraceful part of Tsuma, at least in Yuji's mind. Worse than the Poisoned Water, or the Unicorn Market. A shrine, a literal house of the gods, allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. While the Sun and the Seven were properly attended elsewhere, here the so call lesser fortunes languished.

Yuji had often heard his grandfather tell stories about the activities that were centered around the lesser fortunes. The trials of Tenjin, where aspiring authors tried to write an entire pillowbook within a month. Kojin's Iron Competition, where cooks would compete to see what they could make out of surprising ingredients, and more. Now it was simply a reminder of better days.

But what could be done?

[Kaeru Kaori]

It was the most disgraceful part of Tsuma, at least in Yuji's mind. Worse than the Poisoned Water, or the Unicorn Market. A shrine, a literal house of the gods, allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. While the Sun and the Seven were properly attended elsewhere, here the so call lesser fortunes languished.

Yuji had often heard his grandfather tell stories about the activities that were centered around the lesser fortunes. The trials of Tenjin, where aspiring authors tried to write an entire pillowbook within a month. Kojin's Iron Competition, where cooks would compete to see what they could make out of surprising ingredients, and more. Now it was simply a reminder of better days.

But what could be done?

Kaori heard there was a shrine here, not dedicated to the Great Fortunes, but..others. Presumably some Fortune of victory or something or someone whose support could mean much.

She glanced around. "Oh." Then she saw someone else there." Apologies...Kakita-san." She made a guess based on the mon. "I did not wish to disturb you."

[Kakita Yuji]

Kaori heard there was a shrine here, not dedicated to the Great Fortunes, but..others. Presumably some Fortune of victory or something or someone whose support could mean much.

She glanced around. "Oh." Then she saw someone else there." Apologies...Kakita-san." She made a guess based on the mon. "I did not wish to disturb you."

Yuji shook his head at the interruption.

"Ah no....an interruption in such surroundings is welcome indeed....." he offered with a pause.

He bowed.

"I am known as Kakita Yuji, at least for a short while more." he offered to prompt an introduction in return.

[Kaeru Kaori]

Kaori bowed. "I am Kaori, of the Kaeru, representative of Miya Tetsu-sama and the City of Rich Frog."

She glanced around. "I can certainly understand...what happened here, do you know?"

[Kakita Yuji]

Kaori bowed. "I am Kaori, of the Kaeru, representative of Miya Tetsu-sama and the City of Rich Frog."

She glanced around. "I can certainly understand...what happened here, do you know?"

Yuji frowned for a moment as he struggled with how to express his thoughts on the matter.

"I would suppose it is fair to say that it is the fate of all that is not cared for over time. Flowers wither, fast friends drift into barely remembered acquaintances, famous words fade into misremembered nothingness." he said with a frown.

"One can make excuses, of course. There are only so many grains of rice in a ball, only so many hours in a day.....Reasonable, pragmatic....and yet time and weather do not care for the reason, they simply grind away unchecked."

He bowed.

"My apologies, Kaori, of the Kaeru, representative of Miya Tetsu-sama and the City of Rich Frog. While it is a poignant reminder of what fate awaits all eventually, it is not particularly pleasant. I hope it has not spoiled your view of Tsuma as a whole."

In this he was quite sincere. Tsuma meant a lot to Yuji, and to have this place in this state was an embarrassment, no two ways about it.

[Kaeru Kaori]

Kaori tilted her head. "Oh, that was quite poetic Kakita-sama." She turned her eyes downwards.

Is this what is expected of me? I know the laws of the Empire, or at least the basics. I can sheathe and unsheathe my sword. But poetry? Flowery language?

This is going to be a challenge.

"I...see. Well, no matter the circumstances, the Fortunes deserve our respect and veneration." She sighed. "I...would you kindly point out to me some of the more noteworthy shrines? As for Tsuma...every city has its dark corners, and places of shame. It is a sad reality of our Empire. Cities attract the best of us, as well as the worst of us."

[Kakita Yuji]

Kaori tilted her head. "Oh, that was quite poetic Kakita-sama." She turned her eyes downwards.

Is this what is expected of me? I know the laws of the Empire, or at least the basics. I can sheathe and unsheathe my sword. But poetry? Flowery language?

This is going to be a challenge.

"I...see. Well, no matter the circumstances, the Fortunes deserve our respect and veneration." She sighed. "I...would you kindly point out to me some of the more noteworthy shrines? As for Tsuma...every city has its dark corners, and places of shame. It is a sad reality of our Empire. Cities attract the best of us, as well as the worst of us."

Yuji brightened at the request, unaware that the frog had sealed her doom already.

"Ah, of course, Kaeru-san." he said. "All Crane have a duty as hosts within their city, yes? Natsu-Togumaru's has overseen centuries of the Academy's students offering their prayers in matters of study and examination. I'm certainly that he has overseen the trials all who come to the tournament must face with what aid he can."

Yuji pauses a moment.

"Ah, but speaking of poetry." he said.

He paused a moment struggling with an inner conflict.

"Ie, it would be dishonest not to ask you. As a sort of final project for my studies at the academy, I am trying to obtain two poems from each of this year's competitors. One capturing their initial impressions of Tsuma and the tournament, and one capturing their final ones. Would you be so kind as to assist me with some words of your own?"

[Kaeru Kaori]

Yuji brightened at the request, unaware that the frog had sealed her doom already.

"Ah, of course, Kaeru-san." he said. "All Crane have a duty as hosts within their city, yes? Natsu-Togumaru's has overseen centuries of the Academy's students offering their prayers in matters of study and examination. I'm certainly that he has overseen the trials all who come to the tournament must face with what aid he can."

Yuji pauses a moment.

"Ah, but speaking of poetry." he said.

He paused a moment struggling with an inner conflict.

"Ie, it would be dishonest not to ask you. As a sort of final project for my studies at the academy, I am trying to obtain two poems from each of this year's competitors. One capturing their initial impressions of Tsuma and the tournament, and one capturing their final ones. Would you be so kind as to assist me with some words of your own?"

Kaori smiled and bowed. "Arigatou. I will make sure to pay my respects. Which shrine is it exactly?" When hearing the request, she smiled nervously, while her inner life took on a different dimension.

This is fine.

This is fiiiiine.

"Some...words? Put together in some kind of rhythmic way? Or just...in a regular sentence?"

[Kakita Yuji]

Kaori smiled and bowed. "Arigatou. I will make sure to pay my respects. Which shrine is it exactly?" When hearing the request, she smiled nervously, while her inner life took on a different dimension.

This is fine.

This is fiiiiine.

"Some...words? Put together in some kind of rhythmic way? Or just...in a regular sentence?"

Yuji offered a warm smile at the Kaeru's words.

"Ah, Kaeru-san is blessed with a fine wit. Poetry is so much more than just a few words rhythmically arranged. It is emotion, experience, existence itself distilled down into it's most compact form to be shared with the world. A poet's life must come to an end, but as long as their words are remembered, they are with us still." he said, clearly very passionate about poetry.

"Surely, two poems is not so much to ask from you is it, Kaeru-san? A poem of your initial impressions of Tsuma and the Tournament and a poem at the end. The transition from childhood to adulthood, alongside the other samurai deemed most worthy to compete in the most prestigious gempukku. The end result will be such a beautiful anthology of hopes and dreams, made even better with the addition of your voice."

[Kaeru Kaori]

Yuji offered a warm smile at the Kaeru's words.

"Ah, Kaeru-san is blessed with a fine wit. Poetry is so much more than just a few words rhythmically arranged. It is emotion, experience, existence itself distilled down into it's most compact form to be shared with the world. A poet's life must come to an end, but as long as their words are remembered, they are with us still." he said, clearly very passionate about poetry.

"Surely, two poems is not so much to ask from you is it, Kaeru-san? A poem of your initial impressions of Tsuma and the Tournament and a poem at the end. The transition from childhood to adulthood, alongside the other samurai deemed most worthy to compete in the most prestigious gempukku. The end result will be such a beautiful anthology of hopes and dreams, made even better with the addition of your voice."

"A-arigatou." Kaori was unsure if she was being made fun of or not. Well...he was a Crane. Maybe he was sincere?

"Kakita-sama seems...quite taken with the ending of things." She shrugged after. "I will...gladly provide a poem for you, or two, specifically. Just...they will be bad ones. Poetry was not something that was covered in deep detail during my upbringing."

[Kakita Yuji]

"A-arigatou." Kaori was unsure if she was being made fun of or not. Well...he was a Crane. Maybe he was sincere?

"Kakita-sama seems...quite taken with the ending of things." She shrugged after. "I will...gladly provide a poem for you, or two, specifically. Just...they will be bad ones. Poetry was not something that was covered in deep detail during my upbringing."

Yuji tilted his head at that.

"Hm, do I? I suppose it's a combination of our surroundings and our respective childhoods coming to an end. We will soon set aside the comforts and protections of children to take up the responsibilities of samurai of the Empire. But like life, it's not truly an end, just a change in an endless cycle."

He smiled a bit at the assurances of poetry.

"Ah, fortunately for you Kaeru-san, my training allows me to give you insight in to how to never write bad poetry. The trick is: always speak from your experience, about your experience. When you fill your head with concerns about how cleverly you construct the lines, how it will be compared to viewpoints that are not your own, counting syllables like you're a merchant making change....that's when you fall into the world of bad poetry."

"Only you can infuse poetry with your voice, Kaeru-san. It may be raw, it may be simple, it can be many things. But as long as it is YOU, it will never be bad."

He considered her a moment.

"Beneath gray stormclouds,
Crimson hued Frog looks skyward,
Next jump imminent."


He was definitely being sincere. Not in the 'Oh how sincere' way, but in the 'willing to believe that even a Kaeru has poetry within them.' way.

[Kaeru Kaori]

Yuji tilted his head at that.

"Hm, do I? I suppose it's a combination of our surroundings and our respective childhoods coming to an end. We will soon set aside the comforts and protections of children to take up the responsibilities of samurai of the Empire. But like life, it's not truly an end, just a change in an endless cycle."

He smiled a bit at the assurances of poetry.

"Ah, fortunately for you Kaeru-san, my training allows me to give you insight in to how to never write bad poetry. The trick is: always speak from your experience, about your experience. When you fill your head with concerns about how cleverly you construct the lines, how it will be compared to viewpoints that are not your own, counting syllables like you're a merchant making change....that's when you fall into the world of bad poetry."

"Only you can infuse poetry with your voice, Kaeru-san. It may be raw, it may be simple, it can be many things. But as long as it is YOU, it will never be bad."

He considered her a moment.

"Beneath gray stormclouds,
Crimson hued Frog looks skyward,
Next jump imminent."


He was definitely being sincere. Not in the 'Oh how sincere' way, but in the 'willing to believe that even a Kaeru has poetry within them.' way.

Kaori blushed and looked away. "Comfort, eh?" She wanted to strike back, but...she knew she had it good, for a ronin. A loving family, a steady duty, enough comforts to avoid starvation or exposure. Well, here I am.

She let out a sigh.

"Frog leaps up
Takes flight upon the sky
Will she ever land"

Well...that was something.

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji listened quietly as the Kaeru attempted poetry.

He waited a moment, going over it, before bowing deeply.

"My apologies, Kaeru-san. In my zealousness, I placed you in a position you clearly did not want to be in. Art can be encouraged, but it cannot be compelled. I am sorry that I caused you such discomfort." he said sincerely.

He truly was sorry for that. The poor structure of the poem he could forgive, but the lack of expression struck him quite hard.

[Kaeru Kaori]

Yuji listened quietly as the Kaeru attempted poetry.

He waited a moment, going over it, before bowing deeply.

"My apologies, Kaeru-san. In my zealousness, I placed you in a position you clearly did not want to be in. Art can be encouraged, but it cannot be compelled. I am sorry that I caused you such discomfort." he said sincerely.

He truly was sorry for that. The poor structure of the poem he could forgive, but the lack of expression struck him quite hard.

Kaori blushed and looked away, a mix of fury and shame rosying her cheek. "Nono, no problem Kakita-sama." Stupid Crane. Stupid poetry. Stupid contest. Why can't we duel already?!

She started biting her lip, before realizing what she did, and stopped with a conscious thought.

She opened her mouth to give a cutting remark...but thought better of it and settled in front of the shrine, and started paying her respects instead.

[Kakita Yuji]

They had, after all, made their way to the appropriate shrine with the Kakita guidance. It was a humble shrine, to be sure, but there were still a good amount of offerings lain upon it. Little prayers for aid in upcoming tests students faced at the academy. It was said that the more troubled the student, the more pious they got. The best students made an offering to Fukokurokujin as was appropriate. Slightly poorer also made an offering herre. The offerings increased in number until you got to the poorest students who were offering prayers to Haruhiko on the off chance they were asked a question about fish etqiuette, or perhaps praying they weren't kicked out of the academy and had to become a ronin fisherman to survive.

Yuji, for his part, remained quiet while the Kaeru made her prayers, offering his own for the success of both of them in the upcoming tournament.

[Kaeru Kaori]

They had, after all, made their way to the appropriate shrine with the Kakita guidance. It was a humble shrine, to be sure, but there were still a good amount of offerings lain upon it. Little prayers for aid in upcoming tests students faced at the academy. It was said that the more troubled the student, the more pious they got. The best students made an offering to Fukokurokujin as was appropriate. Slightly poorer also made an offering herre. The offerings increased in number until you got to the poorest students who were offering prayers to Haruhiko on the off chance they were asked a question about fish etqiuette, or perhaps praying they weren't kicked out of the academy and had to become a ronin fisherman to survive.

Yuji, for his part, remained quiet while the Kaeru made her prayers, offering his own for the success of both of them in the upcoming tournament.

Kaori grudginly gave a prayer for the both of them, then she let out a small sigh. "Does Kakita-sama have any idea what Duty awaits him after gempukku?" She didn't turn towards him, her shame burning at her still.

[Kakita Yuji]

Yuji couldn't help but have a small smile.

"Ah, assuming that is not, 'Topaz Champion', Kaeru-san?" he said with a bit of mirth. "I assume that I'll serve as a yojimbo to a junior diplomat. Perhaps Pale Oak Castle if they're not hosting the Imperial Winter Court this year, over Nikesake if they are."

He stretched a bit..

"I assume that Kaeru-san will be serving Miya-sama in some capacity?" he asked. "Again, assuming that Kaeru-san is not the Topaz Champion."

[Kaeru Kaori]

Yuji couldn't help but have a small smile.

"Ah, assuming that is not, 'Topaz Champion', Kaeru-san?" he said with a bit of mirth. "I assume that I'll serve as a yojimbo to a junior diplomat. Perhaps Pale Oak Castle if they're not hosting the Imperial Winter Court this year, over Nikesake if they are."

He stretched a bit..

"I assume that Kaeru-san will be serving Miya-sama in some capacity?" he asked. "Again, assuming that Kaeru-san is not the Topaz Champion."

"Ah, yojimbo, a noble profession." She smiled. "Oh, feel free to assume. I don't think that a city ronin is going to be the Topaz Champion. Your family, after all, has must have out in much effort to ready you and your kin. For me...I assume I'll serve as a yoriki to one of our magistrates. Or perhaps as some guard somewhere. Maybe I will be fortunate enough to continue serving as Miya-sama's scribe, but who knows."

[Kakita Yuji]

"Ah, yojimbo, a noble profession." She smiled. "Oh, feel free to assume. I don't think that a city ronin is going to be the Topaz Champion. Your family, after all, has must have out in much effort to ready you and your kin. For me...I assume I'll serve as a yoriki to one of our magistrates. Or perhaps as some guard somewhere. Maybe I will be fortunate enough to continue serving as Miya-sama's scribe, but who knows."

Yuji frowned at that.

"....You are being too humble, Kaeru-san. I can't believe that Miya-sama would have wasted their influence to bring you here if they thought you unworthy of the honor. The Crane pride themselves on hosting a tournament of this generation's finest, not a tournament of this generation's finest plus one ronin who will be easier for them to beat. While it is not usual for a ronin to win the tournament, it is not unknown. Such individuals who shine in front of so many important samurai go on to do amazing things." he said, bothered by the assertion that the Kaeru could not win.

While Yuji himself was not insulted, if the Kaeru ran around proclaiming it was impossible or them to win, he thought t wouldn't take her long to find someone who was.

[Kaeru Kaori]

Yuji frowned at that.

"....You are being too humble, Kaeru-san. I can't believe that Miya-sama would have wasted their influence to bring you here if they thought you unworthy of the honor. The Crane pride themselves on hosting a tournament of this generation's finest, not a tournament of this generation's finest plus one ronin who will be easier for them to beat. While it is not usual for a ronin to win the tournament, it is not unknown. Such individuals who shine in front of so many important samurai go on to do amazing things." he said, bothered by the assertion that the Kaeru could not win.

While Yuji himself was not insulted, if the Kaeru ran around proclaiming it was impossible or them to win, he thought t wouldn't take her long to find someone who was.

Kaori blushed and looked away. "Arigaou for your confidence Kakita-sama, I hope I can bring satisfaction to your expectations." She did seem to puff herself up slightly.

"I will certainly do my best, and honor Miya-sama's trust, even in such environments." She let out a small smile. "I assume Kakita-sama's sensei is expecting a strong showing from Kakita-sama this coming tournament?"