[D7, EM Jiro's Room] A Warning

[Shiba Haru]

"And if I fail to make it into the dueling tournament? Can you not see how the very idea of that would be distressing to me? I do not know what I would compare it to for you but..."

He touched the netsuke at his waist, a memento of their 6th century ancestor Shiba Raijin.

"You know, I have talked about Raijin-no-shiryo to a few here. This is going to sound incredibly vain I know but...I have been having this feeling. Like...I think WE were him once. When I look to him, his life and deeds for wisdom and motivation all the things I see that he is and I am not I see in you.

I was considering taking his name, but if I cannot at least reach the heights he did how can I dare to do so?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"I understand it is distressing. But you find it to be distressing because you don't think you are good enough. I am telling you that you are. I have seen it. I don't know if we are his soul or if he is in Yomi. But either way, how many in our family have made it here. That is definitely enough to honor him."

[Shiba Haru]

"Shiba Haru, worst of the best." He said deflated. "I'm not even sure I could call myself a Topaz participant at this point as I am not likely to participate in the thing I came here for. I would have accomplished just as much if I had stayed at home."

[Shiba Jiro]

"As would I. Except for the experience you have gained and connections you have made."

[Shiba Haru]

"It's a great fiction but let's be realistic brother, most of the people we have made connections with here we will never see or hear from again. People change posts, people change clans, people lose interest and people die. Or lives are about to become busy and complicated in ways we cannot imagine, if even one of the people I have befriended here becomes a long term friend I would be shocked."

[Shiba Jiro]

"You write letters brother, you keep in touch. You learn where people are serving and keep track. If something important is happening somewhere and you know someone serving there you let your lord know so he might make use of familiarity. People see old friends all the time that way."