[D3LA] Where money flows (Expecting)

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"We definitely can.

Does that make it a good thing however?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Not as such. But..."

She shrugged.

"I'm a Mantis. Greed's something we use, when we can."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Your clan definitely doesn't shy of making it obvious.

But as for effectively exploiting that sin for your advantage? You still have a lot to learn from those who came before you.

Actually, I wouldn't bet on who's making the other dance to their tune in that strange alliance you have with the Crane."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Alliance?"

She quirked an eyebrow.

Smiled.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

Shrug.

Smile.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Thinkin' you're seein' why I steer shy of thinkin' I c'n handle court."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"We don't always get the of comfort of choosing our battlefield.

Actually, doing well in the Topaz pretty much ensures one is going to have to show their face in a few courts, if only as some sort of exotic bird."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"How fortunate, then, that I only have the one test to shine in, hm?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"You tell me. Most people would view that as a small price to pay against the advantages granted by a win. I would be pretty much guaranteed an higher status spouse if I was to do well for example."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"No guarantees on th'sea, Shosuro-san. Not for a sailor, not for a Minor Clanner, and definitely not for me."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Unless you've removed a body part of your previous betrothed, I can hardly imagine an issue serious enough that an imperial title wouldn't make the nakodos forget about it, regardless of birth."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Far as I know, none'athem know I'm even alive. Not that it matters. I 'spect that little cruise was the last favor this tournament's gonna do me."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"...

I'm confused, because your name is now recorded as a participant in this year Topaz championship, and that's the kind of information that goes around. Sure, people aren't going to sing songs about every contestant in every tavern, but the list will still be taken into account by some number of courtiers through the country, as young people whose career evolution might worth checking from time to time.

And the oddity of no less than two Mantis competitors is likely to catch quite a few people attention. If you didn't want people to know you were alive, you couldn't have chosen a worst place.

That, or nom de guerre."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She shrugged.

"Anonymity isn't th'goal, it's just seemed t'be the reality up t'now."

And of course her parents were barely on speaking terms and disagreed on her in particular, so no arrangements had begun there.

"And far as competing here goes... you yourself noted that th'test I've done particularly well in was th'one that seemed t'be invented to let Hirame-san an' I do well. I'm thinkin' that's th'story that's gonna go around if any do."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Definitely.

But for real?

Every test in the Topaz is made to blatantly favor the judge's clan. Except maybe for the Crab one. These people have a weird obsession with actual abilities.

However, yes, your test will likely be the only one remembered as the unfair one this year.

You know, instead of the Scorpion one.

Because it's more about clan reputation than what actually happened through the course of the test."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well, th'Crane wanna say mean things about us, reckon we can let 'em. Might be th'least we c'n do, considering."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Bushido isn't exactly clear on if enduring an insult to one's name is honorable or not, and each person is free to interpret it any way they want.

Though, to be honest... I'm kinda drawing a blank on the Mantis interpretation of bushido. Each great clan plays by the virtues in some capacity. Yes, even the Scorpion. They have different takes on it, on which are the most important ones, but everyone plays by the code to some extent. That's the very basis of trust in-between samurai.

The Mantis meanwhile seems to kinda dodge the subject on a good day, and to really want to provoke the Lion into acquiring a maritime float on a bad one."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"That's what happens when a clan's whole identity is what they've managed to seize for themselves. It makes puttin' up with th'strictures of others a pain y'don't need."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Playing dumb only works to a certain extent you know?

Your clan is half a millennium old! Your founder was a direct blood descendant of the Kami Hida and was given the education appropriate of a clan champion to be! There is no other minor clan, old or new, that started with such an advantage in term of legitimacy and training! And yet you still act as if you were born from the sea yesterday!

The Topaz itself is but a show-off contest. However in a few days you will also receive the physical symbol of your honor as a samurai. How do you even expect to be worthy of it if you refuse to even consider the question of honor?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Y'know how much use katanas see aboard ship, Shosuro-san?"

It was a rhetorical question.

"We find our Honor is followin' our orders an' honorin' our deals. Which, if y'pay attention, puts us head'n'shoulders ahead'a some who're much noisier 'bout it. We just don't see it as a pageant to perform."

She paused. Smiled wryly.

"Not that we don' put on a show, but it's interestin' t'see how much everyone buys it."