Lilly
It was a sunny day in the Scorpion Gardens. Walking along its paths and taking in the sights of wild nature and exotic imported wildlife was a graceful, priestly figure.

Though it was technically open to the other Clans (and indeed, very close to the Residence), Khulan made sure to stay on her guard without betraying that she was.

For all her vigilance, it certainly appeared like the Unicorn woman in her understated violet kimono (her *Meishodo* Talismans carefully stored but within reach) was simply enjoying a stroll.

And she *Did* Enjoy it. The garden was, indeed, a place of beauty both exotic and conventional. And given her affinity with nature, the animals of the managerie were a welcome attraction (though she personally preferred that they should be free in their homelands).

Of course, she wasn't alone. There were a few different colours of the other Clans, and the Scorpion caretakers, of course. Any she met was greeted and went on their way.

Now she was at a small bridge over a modest stream, pausing to catch her breath while seeing if any of this place inspired her, whether in poetry or spirituality.

But from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a colour that was paradoxically both unexpected yet also expected to be found in a Scorpion establishment: the blue of the Crane.

"Good day, Kakita-san. It's a beautiful day for enjoying the gardens, isn't it?"

Specifically, an icy-eyed and straight-faced young woman.

*A full* Daisho. *Fitting for her family and their dedication to the blade.*

||
William
The Crane samurai-ko had only been to the Scorpion Gardens once before. For such an idyllic locale, the occasion had been surprisingly tense, mainly because she had spent it in the *Onsen* On the grounds, in the company of a woman named Bayushi Kaori. On the way out, Kiyoko had decided that she would like to visit the gardens proper when she could—she would never admit it, but the gardens here were more opulent than the ones at the Crane Embassy in Ryoko Owari (even if that was rather to be expected, given that the embassy was deep within Scorpion territory). Today, she had finally decided to wander the grounds.

An attractive woman of pale porcelain complexion accentuated by a distinctive beauty mark to the side of her chin and sporting chin-length platinum-white hair, Kiyoko had chosen to wear a black kimono embroidered with light blue sakura blooms and a dark blue obi turned back over itself to reveal a crimson streak today, over which she wore a blue haori that bore the Kakita mon, a crane cradling a katana in its wing, on its left shoulder. Her daisho was thrust through her obi, and she kept a vigilant eye on her surroundings: the Kakita duelist was not so foolish as to leave her guard down in a proverbial den of vipers, idyllic and pastoral as the scenery may have been. Especially when wearing the clan colors of the Scorpions' greatest enemy.

Kiyoko wandered the paths, taking in the songs of birds and the gentle breeze. Ahead, a bridge rose up from the path, and she noted that she had almost caught up to another garden guest wandering the trails. A violet kimono and brown hair, with only a wakizashi at her hip; not a bushi, then, but most certainly a Unicorn samurai-ko. The Crane duelist continued her leisurely pace, pausing here and there to admire a juniper or a yew tree, and was surprised when the Unicorn woman turned around and called to her as she neared.

"Good day, Unicorn-san," She replied. "It is indeed a pleasant day."

Now that Kiyoko was closer to the bridge, the woman's mixed features were more evident. Which Unicorn family was it that crossed its bloodlines with *Gaijin*, again? Or perhaps, which *Didn't*? She could not recall.

As the Crane walked the bridge, she stopped about a katana's length from Khulan and looked off down the stream. "A good place to contemplate life's brevity with a haiku, I would think."

||
Lilly
Khulan's appearance was a study in contrasts. On the one hand, she was of an average height, and her features were shaped to that of most Rokugani females, slender and graceful. Her kimono, too, was of a fairly conventional style, being a humble violet with only a bit of white on its edges, as well as the Unicorn *Mon* On its back and the open hand of the Ide on its left shoulder.

Yet at the same time, her complexion was clearly foreign, being more sunburnt and windswept. Her hair falling down her sides, while neat, was also arranged in more foreign loops. And her obi held the most contrast, being a white fabric with gold thread that still draped down even while bound, some strange foreign script embroidered upon it.

Still, there was genuine warmth and serenity in her hazel eyes and gentle voice as she nodded and replied.

"I've heard some poets say that any place can inspire poetry," She remarked, turning to look over the bridge. "But I've also had teachers say that if that's so, you might as well be inspired in a garden."

The shugenja turned back to the Crane, a slight smile of an appropriate level on her lips. She seemed a contemplative, focused warrior.

"Of course, a garden's serenity is for more than just poets."

A simple, complimentary reference to the samurai-ko's presence being welcome.

Granted, even bushi were expected to cultivate their souls through art. Doubly so with the Cranes.

||
William
Kiyoko nodded, gaze still focused on the stream as it flowed into the distance. Both were true, she thought—any place *Could*; and if so, why not a garden? The Crane listened silently for long moments to the sounds of the garden. The birds, the animals both exotic and common, the bubbling brook. It was deceptively placid, she thought.

She glanced at Khulan. "I think the most serene garden is probably one's own." After all, only at home could a bushi truly let her guard down even a little—well, if one didn't count geisha, anyway.

||
Lilly
The Ide nodded in response, her gentle smile never wavering.

"I most certainly agree, Kakita-san. Any art may have beauty in its own right. But *Meaning* Speaks to the heart."

All the same, genuine reflections aside, she didn't miss the woman's own sense of focus. Like her, it seemed to be that particular layering of conversations. Focusing on the words and topics they shared, but with the silent subtext of their surroundings.

At least that was her initial thought, but too much scrutiny was detrimental. For now, it was enough to simply bow respectfully to this equally vigilant samurai-ko.

"Allow me to introduce myself," The Unicorn said with flowing grace, rising to meet the Kakita's gaze. "I am Ide Khulan, a spiritual consultant of my Clan. I am glad to make your acquaintance."

||
William
Kiyoko blinked at Khulan. She couldn't really argue with that—who wanted to see only vanity and emptiness all their days? The duelist nodded her agreement belatedly. What was it with Unicorn clan society that seemed to breed such unfamiliar ways of thinking?

At least the Unicorn samurai-ko was polite. Kiyoko returned her bow, careful to mirror the depth of it. "Kakita Kiyoko, a bushi," She said by way of reply. "Likewise a pleasure, Ide-san. As I recall, most of the Garden's denizens are gifts from your clan. Come to see how they fare under their current caregivers?"

||
Lilly
The shugenja shrugged, though there was a slight smile gracing her lips.

"A subject which interests me, but sadly, I am not here to visit them." Khulan replied, her serene tone juxtaposed against light humour in her words. 

She turned her gaze towards more of the garden's views, its wild plants and flowers, the placements of benches and decks where one might sit for a rest, a meal, or a game of *Go*.

"Like most visitors, I simply wished to spend time in the beauty of these gardens. And as someone with an interest in poetry, I wished to see if a change in setting might lead to different inspiration."

Turning back to the warrior Crane, Khulan's expression and tone both warmed openly.

"And what of yourself, Kakita-san? Have you come to enjoy the garden's beauty, or to seek a place for contemplation?"

||
William
A poet? Kiyoko gave Khulan a sidelong, appraising look. The woman projected a quiet, almost demure serenity that certainly *Fit* Kiyoko's idea of what a poet looked like—probably why she didn't consider herself a poet, even if she wrote poetry.

"The garden *Is* Beautiful," She admitted. The Crane looked down the stream again. *Would* Such a place as this be conducive to contemplation? She wasn't so sure.

Kiyoko leaned forward, resting her arms on the bridge's railing. A breeze picked up momentarily, and she held up one hand to keep her hair in place. "It was worth a second visit, at least."

||
Lilly
The Ide nodded with gradual understanding. This Kiyoko was indeed a fairly taciturn woman. Fitting for a composed Kakita. And judging by her omission in her reply, she was also apparently more wary of their surroundings.

Understandably so; the Scorpions were most often rivals of the Unicorn and Crane. Doubly so in this city all the Clans were stuck together in.

"With its striking appearance," She commented as she joined Kiyoko at the railing with a respectable distance, "I can imagine so."

The mention of a second visit might be a mild curiosity in most cases, but in the context of their surroundings, it certainly held more curiosity. But for the time being, she held her tongue on the topic to avoid discourteous prying.

*Still, I can at least commiserate with her.*

"I do wonder if it will inspire me to come again myself." Khulan mused lowly. "One can find enjoyment here, but I suppose visitors are more likely to be at peace if they were Scorpions."

||
William
The Kakita nodded absently, silent as she gazed downstream.

"I can be fairly assured that no harm will come to another Great Clan samurai *From the Scorpion* In this garden," She said. "It would be quite the loss of face."

Kiyoko glanced in the direction of the onsen on the grounds. Was it brave or foolish of her that she had stripped naked and divested herself of her daisho in the presence of Scorpion samurai and ashigaru? Certainly, she had felt confident that the Scorpion clan would live up to the demands of hospitality, even to their enemies. That was simply Bushido.

"...Is it inspiring you *Now*, Ide-san?"
||
Lilly
"I believe I agree with you, Kakita-san. Scorpions make for colourful villains in plays and pillow books... But it is wise to remember they don't sting without cause."

The shugenja swept her gaze across the gardens, from the little river passing under the bridge to the shrubberies and trees cared for by the groundskeepers. She wondered which of them were tasked with watching guests. Some? All? None?

"For the most part," She concluded, "We're as safe here as we would be in any other court."

*Which is to say: Somewhat, but not entirely.*

The Kakita turned her gaze for a moment, and Khulan instinctively followed along for a moment. The Scorpions' *Onsen*...Certainly open to everyone, but also where one feels the most vulnerable. Was that where she had been for her last visit?

Still, that was this Crane's history. Khulan simply smiled slightly and nodded in response to her question.

"As a matter of fact, I believe it is. Some poetry is born from peace and serenity... Others from circumstances that make one alert."

Looking to the Crane, the Ide spoke a bit more pointedly. Not removing the same gentle tone she always conveyed, but certainly with more visible interest in her companion's words.

"And is your second visit measuring up to your first?"

||
William
"It is... Less tense."

Kiyoko would have expected that a soak in an onsen would have been a way to *Relieve* Tension, but that had hardly been the case. Instead, it had been more like the opening of a duel, where the duelists gauged each other's ability and focus. Or maybe a courtier's duel of words. It was exhilarating in its own way, but hardly what she had expected when she had stepped into the onsen.

She glanced at Khulan. "So, what sort of poetry does Ide-san write? Haiku? Senryu? Tanka?"

||
Lilly
She nodded in acknowledgement with a small smile. 

"That is good to know, Kakita-san." Khulan said with a small smile and nod.

It was a pleasant enough answer from the Crane, pleasing to Khulan if only for the fact that it meant another person found some peace for the day. She didn't need to know whether it was because of her presence or simply that Kiyoko felt more at ease this day. Sometimes, saying more cheapened a thing into less.

Her expression did light up with the question about poetry, however. And renewed vigour entered her voice as she spoke with subdued enthusiasm.

"I do try my hand at all the forms of poetry, and I do find *Haiku* A most nuanced art. Though I do admit, I have a personal preference for the travel poetry of my Clan."

She remembered to catch herself, however, lest she consign her acquaintance to the realm of blank, polite stares as happened with her siblings. Instead, she shifted the focus again, returning with a similar thought.

"And do you have a favourite style of poetry as well?" She asked, giving space for the possibility that Kiyoko preferred to be the audience rather than the poet.

||
William
Travel poetry? Kiyoko recalled that the Unicorn clan had a fondness for something by that name, but she could never remember what that entailed (beyond the obvious).

"I... See." 

The bushi didn't press for an elaboration on the topic, content to let the Ide woman redirect the conversation to what style of poetry *Kiyoko* Preferred.

"Senryu," She said simply. Named for an imperial poet from centuries past, senryu was a form of poetry similar to haiku—except that rather than being focused on nature, senryu shone a spotlight on the folly of humanity. A part of Kiyoko liked it for its warning to avoid those moral pitfalls—another part of her secretly liked the feeling of superiority that came with the knowledge that she had *Not* Fallen into those traps.

Kiyoko paused a beat, then repeated a famous one she knew from memory: 
"'Catching him
I see the robber 
Is my own son.'"

She tilted her head to look at Khulan, and said, "That is a famous example of the form. They tend to be dark and a bit cynical. A good warning about how *Not* To be, and how *Not* To let things turn out. Is there a particular travel poem you are fond of, Ide-san?"

||
Lilly
Khulan didn't mind Kiyoko's lack of familiarity. Travel poetry was mostly limited to her Clan; it was understandable few outside of it even heard of it.

The Crane's answer seemed most appropriate, reflecting her dignified introspection. And the windswept shugenja most assuredly enjoyed listening to her recital.

"Thank you for sharing that, Kakita-san." Khulan said gratefully with a short bow, rising with subdued enthusiasm. "You recited it most admirably! As for myself?"

That enthusiasm was reined in like a spirited steed, and the Ide drew upon her memory.

"*Great praise can be won*
*With small gifts*
*I have found friendship*
*With something*
*As simple as*
*A pastry twist and tea.*"

There was the soft silence that fell after the words for a moment, Khulan smiling.

"That was my favourite poem, and my Father's. Though its topics can vary as well."

Kiyoko's own perceptiveness, whether as a duellist or a poetry enthusiast, would gather its form: two lines that repeat certain key sounds with each other, then a third that does it within itself. And three more lines, following the pattern. And a complete freedom from other forms or syllables. Perhaps painfully so to the especially traditional.

"I can see its connections with senryu. Travel poetry also seeks to impart lessons, reminding the listener about an important truth," She explained eagerly, facing the Crane fully. "Though we also lean on the utility of telling a tale with humour."

That eagerness softened into a serene thoughtfulness.

"I do find it most interesting. Forms and mood may differ... Yet their purposes are similar."

Then, with renewed will, Khulan held off on giving her *Full* Opinion on how that was so. Both to avoid boring Kiyoko and to give her a chance to speak in turn.

||
William
Kiyoko mused silently for a few moments after Khulan recited her own favorite poem. Somehow, standing atop a burbling brook seemed an extremely appropriate venue to hear travel poetry. Not that the travel poem in question had anything to do with streams, but still—it just resonated with the poet in Kiyoko. 

"I can appreciate the comparison," The duelist said at length. She glanced at the Ide woman. "And you said it was your father's favorite, as well? Does it remind you of him?"

The Crane wondered whether Khulan's father was still around; and if he had passed on, if the association of the travel poem with her father's memory influenced her fondness for it.

||
Lilly
The Crane woman seemed to be genuinely appreciative, if not of travel poetry's specifics, at least of the fact that it was poetry in general. Khulan was pleased; more orthodox artists sometimes found its rhythms and alliterations jarring.

Then again, for all the talk of them being hidebound traditionalists, she always did appreciate the work the Crane put in to build bridges. Some were big snobs, but she understood that with the Unicorn, there were those who tried to appreciate or understand their new ways. Either out of Duty, or Compassion. She preferred the latter, but appreciated the former.

"Indeed," She responded to her query with a short nod and a warm smile as memory was given voice. "While his work's focus is diplomacy and negotiation, he does enjoy poetry as a part of courtly life. He would often read to us in our lessons. When he visits my home, we take time to enjoy such things."

Khulan wasn't exactly an unexpressive woman. But her tone had certainly shifted again. First from genial greetings to eager enthusiasm, and now to a genuine fondness.

"We have other topics, of course. Ironic twists, comments about Honour or the price of greed. But this poem, I feel, represented him and his work most pleasingly: to build friendships, and find it in the little things."

Having said her piece, she held the Kakita's gaze and returned the question.

"And what of yourself, Kakita-san? Was that poem one of your favourites as well?"

It was said without judgement of the senryu's grim turn, with no pressure to be specific. If anything, such awareness of life's harshness was even praised among the samurai. A similar attitude assigned to life's impermanence.

||
William
Kiyoko shook her head. "No, though I appreciate the poem's unexpected turn. A man being stolen from us bad; in a way, it is even worse for the fact that it is his own son. A betrayal on top of a theft."

The Crane's gaze grew distant. Did she really *Have* A favorite poem? If she did, it was probably one of her own. She turned the subject around again: "You seem close to your father." It was as much statement as question.

For her own part, Kiyoko recalled her father fondly—still alive, and a magistrate in Mura Sabishii Toshi, he had always doted on his only daughter. Many fathers favored their sons, but not hers. If anything, her parents had favored *Her* Over her two brothers, though that may have been as much due to her being marked early on in life as a prodigy with the sword-arts of iaijutsu and kenjutsu.

"He is a courtier like yourself, then?"

||
Lilly
Khulan nodded appreciatively, enjoying the discussion of art. The distance in the Crane's gaze spoke to an intense focus, and due consideration for this conversation.

The question was a surprise, though. But not an unwelcome one.

"He is," Khulan answered, "Though I must confess, I ended up walking the path of the shugenja when my gift was discovered."

Her expression eased into a familiar smile.

"But yes, he is close to all of his children. Though our mother had to handle most of our true lessons."

Memories of their father briefly flashed before her eyes. Lord of his modest (for a samurai) home in Turo-Kojiri, returning after months, or at the end of a long day of minding their wards. The dignity of a calm, composed lord melting like snow before spring, eager to share in the life of his family.

"Father had precious little time to spend with his family," She said almost distantly, as if she had one foot in the present and another in the past, "So he preferred to spend it doting on us."

Each of his children had something special and unique with him. In her case, it was the status of the eldest daughter, and most often, her mother's helper. Her siblings' keeper.

Khulan's focus returned like a turn in a ceremonial dance, and she regarded the Crane with the same welcoming warmth.

"I understand, of course. For the likes of us, parents prepare children for Duty. But I am thankful for the parts he played in shaping me."

It might have been surprising that Khulan was willing to share that much. But she was certainly happy to do so... And return the question.

"And what of yourself, Kakita-san? Are either of your parents *Bushi* As well?"

||
William
"A shugenja," Kiyoko echoed absently. The Crane samurai-ko had little use for the powers of the Kami, though they were powers indeed. They were just too unpredictable and hard to control for her to truly rely upon them for much. She would hardly turn down the aid in a fight, though she much preferred to rely upon her own strength and steel. But then, if she had any talent for communicating with them herself? Who knows, maybe she would think differently.

She glanced at Khulan at the question about her own parents. "Both are. Magistrates in Mura Sabishii Toshi. *Otousan* Was friends with my sensei, and between the two of them, they are the reason I am a bushi myself. Good judges of both skill and character."

Not that she much wanted to elaborate on the 'character' part: they had both seen her eagerness for bloodshed when she was younger. But then, they had also seen the wisdom of sending her on a *Musha shugyo,* Where that belligerence was tempered.

||
Lilly
"They sound like good teachers indeed." Khulan said warmly while nodding. "I am sure you honour them well."

The woman herself seemed to have the proper demeanour for a bushi: focused and disciplined, with a warrior's readiness. Traits applicable in any path for the samurai, but especially relevant for those who took up arms.

Her gaze turned to the flowing stream again. She always had an affinity with its flow, and had been told her Water was strong. Though she often wondered if that wasn't just her fascination with tea.

"Father taught us well," She said, "But my true teachers of what was expected of me were my mother and my own *Sensei*, the Iuchi who discovered my gift."

A short smile returned to her lips. Slight and nostalgic.

"A unique circumstance, but not unheard of, for a family less attuned to the spiritual to produce a rare shugenja."

There was a certain wistfulness to her words. She didn't regret who she grew up to be, but her upbringing would always remain with her. As did thoughts about what could have been had she walked her father's path.

||
William
"Mmn," Kiyoko murmured. It was about as close as she would come to getting emotive around a stranger.

"Is your mother not a shugenja as well?" She asked, pushing off from the bridge's railing, then turning around and leaning back against it. She propped her arms on the railing behind her and looked around their surroundings in the Garden.

Was that gardener always there? Kiyoko wondered, eyeing a man out of the corner of her eye. No doubt a simple gardener, but the Crane hardly wanted to let her guard down here, regardless.

"Or what did she teach you?"

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Lilly
The Ide shook her head in response while turning to share the view the Kakita beheld.

"No; she was once a scout and explorer, but learned a few more courtly pursuits to better manage our home while Father was on duty." 

A wed bushi could still learn how to run a household, just as a courtly parent could still be firm and disciplined. But it wasn't unheard of for a samurai to diversify their skills depending on their duties.

"Still, whatever my Father taught us, she made sure we *Learned*." Khulan said, nostalgic humour apparent in her tone. "And besides that, she taught us how to ride and use a bow. She was always more familiar with the saddle than Father was."

She noted the Crane observing her surroundings. Indeed, neither of them forgot where they were, public setting aside.

"Hm," She uttered while stepping onto the centre of the bridge's path, "I believe I have soaked in as much of this stream as I wish."

The shugenja then turned back to the Kakita.

"Are there any other sights in these gardens you came to see, or that you'd recommend, Kakita-san?"

A subtle shift in her invitation, offering a chance to resume moving through here.

||
William
"Ah. An adaptive woman, your mother," Kiyoko said. 

Khulan's oblique invitation was not lost on the Crane, and she pushed off of the bridge's railing to stand upright again. She looked around, first to the left and to the right—the way she had come from, and the way she was going—then turned to her right.

"I had not thought to do much more than wander and see what awaited me, truth be told," Kiyoko said. She motioned ahead, then started walking at a slow pace; hopefully, Khulan would take the cue to accompany her. "And you?"

||
Lilly
"Indeed," Khulan agreed with proper modesty, "A hallmark of her school."

Kiyoko's response seemed like another example of watchfulness in her surroundings. But at the very least, being her in 'Scorpion territory' didn't seem to daunt here. Taking her slow walk's meaning, the brown-eyed Ide followed suit, walking abreast with the Crane.

"Much the same as you, Kakita-san," She answered. "I simply wished to see the Gardens at least once, whatever it may hold."

*Though I know some might worry I was taking an unnecessary risk.*

"Still," She added with a smile, "I am most thankful that the fortunes saw fit for our paths to cross. New arrivals can often find common ground; something which united some of my Father's wards."

That, too, drew a comparison to the two ladies here in the Scorpion Garden. Though the friendly image also had the subtext that both were on their guard for their hosts.

||
William
Kiyoko raised an eyebrow. Khulan's father's *Wards*? The two samurai-ko kept a leisurely pace as they made their way through the Gardens, and Kiyoko took advantage of the pace to take in the carefully sculpted landscapes around them. Juniper trees, maple and yew trees, various shrubs and bushes... All planted in a layout that seemed paradoxically carefree and meticulously planned. 

The Crane bushi paused near one particular juniper tree and stared up into its branches. She had always like this particular species of tree, though she couldn't really say why.

"When you say 'wards,' do you mean students? Or your brothers and sisters?" She asked, reaching up to lightly tap one juniper needle-cluster with the pad of a finger, mostly on a whim.

||
Lilly
The Ide smiled with genuine pleasure that Kiyoko was expressing curiosity. As the bushi might have gathered by now, Khulan cherished her family and enjoyed talking about them.

"Children from other Clans sent to live with us for awhile," She answered, looking at the juniper tree that captivated the Crane. "Some would say guests, others hostages. We tried to be good hosts, though."

It was a fact. As much as her family strove to provide a peaceful atmosphere of goodwill, politics were politics. Though even the circumstances of the children's arrival didn't necessarily reflect their own attitude to their temporary home.

"Most maintained their distance. But a few did grow at least a little closer to us. We hoped to sow the seeds of peace in the future."

She glanced over to the seemingly haphazard arrangements of the garden. It might have seemed so to many, and it was true she wasn't fully versed in such landscaping. But her own experience crafting jewellery gave her an appreciation for every decoration having its place.

||
William
Kiyoko was familiar with the idea of political hostages: children sent to live with a rival as a guarantee against untoward behavior. It was a fairly common practice, though not one she had ever encountered as a child herself (either as the ~~hostage~~ guest, or as a host).

"Ah. So," She replied. "An interesting idea of 'peace.' I cannot imagine being particularly well-disposed toward people who I lived with unwillingly. Has your family seen much proof of these 'seeds'?"

The Crane onna-musha glanced back to Khulan, letting her hand fall to her side as she started walking again, slowly, so as to unhurriedly hear Khulan's reply as they walked.

||
Lilly
Her smile remained, though there was a wistfulness to her eyes. She understood that problem well.

"Well... I suppose that depended on the 'ground' on which they landed, Kakita-san. Though the short answer is: It's hard to tell."

They understood: They could not take it for granted that a ward would match the attitude of their family. Not even when most of those arrangements were based on friendships her Father built in the Clans he visited. So, they simply did their best, and hoped they took back stories that they were good hosts.

"I am sure some thought nothing of it and went back to their old lives like normal, the seeds plucked by birds." Khulan said in a matter-of-fact manner. "Or they tried, but life and Duty simply called them to a different path, strangling the seeds or drying them up."

Turning to Kiyoko, her voice's serenity grew in its gentle resolve as they passed a maple.

"Still... I would like to believe that there are those in whom they took root and grew strong. Perhaps as a voice for peace, who knows of Compassion between the Clans... But I'll be pleased if they simply remember my family fondly."

||
William
"All one can hope for," Kiyoko replied. She shrugged. "Perhaps that is enough."

The Crane glanced at Khulan, mildly surprised at her introspective nature. The pair walked the meandering path through the gardens, and Kiyoko fell silent, lost in her own thoughts. It was a shame that Khulan was not a bushi herself—the Kakita duelist would have loved to have seen how she handled a blade. After all, only in swordplay could a warrior's heart be made known... And Kiyoko had a feeling that Khulan would be a calm, composed dueling partner from first to last.

"...A Calm Heart..." The Crane mused idly.

||
Lilly
Khulan found that she was greatly appreciating Kiyoko's presence. While she was trained in conversation, she also understood the value of silence. Or rather, how silence let one *See* And *Listen*.

Kiyoko was a composed warrior, and perhaps cautious in their present surroundings. But she was also good company for a simple walk among nature.

*A mind that is focused and sharp. She is like still waters which run deep. And a surface which can reflect who looks into it.*

The words she uttered, however, piqued the Ide's interest. It was, after all, the name of her family's greatest dojo. And a road not taken.

"...Will lead to the Perfect Stroke." Khulan finished unbidden.

It was an odd and unexpected pairing. But for all that, the two of them seemed to settle in a kind of harmony as they walked among nature. Watchful of their surroundings, yet living in the now.

"And did you know, Kakita-san? Our families' schools share a surprising amount of history."

Khulan knew to not push too hard with anyone, especially new acquaintances.

But even so, she realised that even now, she might have sown a seed.

||
William
Kiyoko gave Khulan a sharp look. She could not recall hearing that particular phrase before, though there was a certain sense to it. A certain beauty to it, also. Perhaps that was why she had felt drawn to the Calm Heart duelists when she had been on her *Musha shugyo*—though none had ever drawn that connection between the Kakita dueling style and the Calm Heart style explicitly, at least that she could recall. 

"Do they? I am afraid that I was a poor student of history when I stayed in Calm Heart Village, a few years ago," The Kakita duelist said. She always had preferred hands-on experience over history lessons. "Did Ide-san have the opportunity to train with the Calm Heart duelists herself?"

||
Lilly
It wasn't exactly a common saying, but there was a certain poetry in it, reciprocating the respect she was showing to her family's duelling school.

"I have not; my gift was found early enough that I trained with the Iuchi from the start." Khulan answered. Fondly, she recalled "I was, however, still raised an Ide, and know our histories. And one of my brothers has recently completed his education at the Single Strike dojo."

The more common duellist dojo of her Clan. But the Calm Heart grew out from it as a natural evolution, further embracing Ide values. They did not just strike for victory, but for reconciliation... Though until she could meet her brother again, the subtler distinctions were lost on her, who lay outside the school.


As they continued their walk past the trees and shrubberies, Khulan slowed her pace to glance at the flowers and herbs.

"But it is known to me that when the Ki-Rin returned, the Crane were among our greatest and most numerous teachers of the Empire's ways, including *Iaijutsu*. Our first senseis were from the Kakita, and they taught us the traditional form to better hold our own at court."

Turning back to the Crane, Khulan's expression brightened. Her tone and demeanour were still calm, but she was warmly welcoming in gentle curiosity.

"Still, I was not aware that you had spent time with the Calm Heart Dojo! Was that an arrangement by your senseis, or a different opportunity?"

||
William
"I see," Kiyoko replied, a note of disappointment in her voice. Her renewed curiosity came through in her voice as Khulan spoke of her brother. "Oh. Is he here in Ryoko Owari as well? Maybe you could introduce me."

After all, it would be hard to spar with someone who lived dozens or hundreds of miles away. Even if he wasn't a Calm Heart duelist, a sparring partner was a sparring partner.

The Crane nodded, vaguely recalling her own history lessons that the Crane had helped the Ki-Rin, now Unicorn, reintegrate. It made sense that the reintroduction of iaijutsu to the Unicorn clan would be at the hands of Kakita duelists.

"No, not my sensei. Not exactly," Kiyoko said. "Although he was the one who sent me on it, I was on a *Musha shugyo* For several years before I was sent to Ryoko Owari Toshi. It was... Self-directed, you might say. So I found my way to the Calm Heart dojo relatively late in my journey."

Given that it was to cool her bloodthirstiness that she was sent on a warrior-pilgrimage to begin with, had she found the Calm Heart duelists sooner, it may have taken her less time to complete that pilgrimage.

||
Lilly
She could make an educated guess that given her passion for the blade, Kiyoko was interested in her brother Tanjiro's martial talents.

"Alas, he is not. He was assigned to protect another courtier assigned to Crane lands." Khulan explained with a lightly regretful smile. "But if he should ever arrive here, I'll be sure to do so."

Her answer about her time at Calm Heart dojo, however, received an appreciative nod. Especially since the warrior's pilgrimage held great appeal to the Unicorn way of life as a journey of discovery.

"Quite a journey indeed. But I hope that your time there was a fruitful one, and that my Clanmates were good hosts."

Khulan imagined what that must have been like. A warrior on the road, without their family's name. And late in the journey, she would have gone through all the battles the road would throw at her.

*A different experience altogether compared to my studies with the Iuchi.*

"And what would you say you learned from your time with the Calm Heart dojo?" She asked curiously.

||
William
"Please do," Kiyoko replied about the introduction to Khulan's brother. The Crane looked around contentedly, taking in the tranquil foliage around them. A brief thought occurred: Wasn't the Scorpion Garden also home to a number of *Beasts* And wildlife that the Unicorn had given them? She wondered where those were.

"Mmn. It was, and they were," Came her reply.

A small smile crossed her lips as she answered Khulan's final question. "How to fight with a *Calm heart*. I do not know that I care so much about leaving reconciliation open, but... There is also no need to go seeking offense."

Kiyoko shrugged.

"You mentioned your brother. Do you have any other brothers or sisters?"

||
Lilly
She smiled peacefully at Kiyoko's answer.

"Then it seems you learned exactly what you were meant to carry with you, Kakita-san."

The words were sincere and true, appreciative without being overly defensive of her Clan's teachings. After all, besides each samurai walking their own path, she understood that such pacifism was only ever truly common among most of the Phoenix.

The question about siblings, however, brought a nod from the Ide, her expression brightening subtly.

"Indeed I do. Besides my younger brother, I have an elder brother and two younger sisters, each on quite a different path."

She decided that for now, Kiyoko didn't need to know about her sisterly instincts and her knack for mothering whichever wards were open to it.

"And what of yourself, Kakita-san?"

||
William
"Mmn." Kiyoko nodded. She wasn't sure about it being 'meant' to be, but she was sure she was a better woman—and *Kenshi*—and samurai—for it. 
As for the Ide woman, the *Onee-san* Vibe was noticeable enough even without Khulan's verbal admission.

"Ah. A larger family, then," She said. She shrugged. "Then again, it sounds like your house was busy frequently hosting 'guests,' so maybe it seemed even larger."

Kiyoko idly reached for and rubbed a small cherrywood *Netsuke* In the shape of a cat's head that poke through the top of her obi. A gift from her younger brother, Muzan. "Two brothers. One older, one younger. Both bushi. Both in Crane lands, last I heard."

The duelist felt a frown tugging at the corners of her lips. She realized with a touch of—sadness? Nostalgia?—that she had not spoken to either of her brothers since her *Musha shugyo* Had ended, nor had she heard much in the way of news about them. 

||
Lilly
Khulan smiled at her observation about her household, passively taking in the scenery. The trees were clearing, making way for shrubberies as they continued their walk through the gardens.

"Just so. I'm inclined to think that my many siblings prepared me to guide and host our guests... Though sometimes, I wonder if it was the other way around, and our guests helped me to be a better sister."

*It seems her family is blessed to honour the warrior's path.*

Amidst her contemplation, however, she did not fail to notice Kiyoko's shift in expression. The subtle hint of souring upon mentioning her brothers.

Normally, Khulan's composed etiquette helped keep her from meddling overly much in the affairs of others. She knew when to speak, when to be silent, and when to leave well alone.

Which means any time she meddled, it tended to be a deliberate choice.

"Do you miss them, Kakita-san?"

It was probably the most direct and involved question from the Ide all day. And the most Unicorn-like she had been in this conversation.

||
William
The Crane looked askance at Khulan. She had not really thought much about her siblings in the intervening years since she departed on her *Musha shugyo*. The last time she had seen her older brother, Jin, had been shortly after she had (finally) been victorious in an iaijutsu duel against him. The fact that the Kakita Blade she bore had been passed to her from her grandfather Kiyoto, rather than to him, had been galling—even more so because up until that point, she had never beaten him. At least that match had settled things. He *Had* Given her his blessing after that.

"Mmn," She murmured, unsure how willing she was to answer such a personal question. This Ide woman *Did* Seem trustworthy, at least... Something like a big sister. The big sister she never had, Kiyoko thought wryly. 

She finally nodded. "Yes."

"They are family, after all," She said, once again rubbing that cat's-head netsuke.

||
Lilly
Khulan kept her serene manner as she listened to Kiyoko. She was certainly not one to look down on her sharing, but neither did she make a big fuss that might be more attention than was comfortable.

Instead, she simply nodded with sympathy in response to the Crane's words.

"That is understandable. When all is said and done... Family is family."

They had been open (relatively speaking) about their families. So in the true Ide spirit, she aimed to reciprocate as their steps passed by a flowering bush.

"I can relate. Distance aside, it has been some time since I have seen my siblings. Or my children."

Not so little as to make it one-sided. But not so much as to overwhelm her or make her feel obligated to share.

Still, her own instincts, sisterly and motherly alike, were raised. Kiyoko wasn't the only samurai far from home, but to personally cherish one's family was still a blessing. To know that they were not just blood ties, but loved ones, made their absence feel larger. A feeling she knew well.

||
William
Kiyoko glanced at the flowering bush as they walked. The Ide woman had children? This should not have surprised Kiyoko, and yet it did. In fact, when she thought about it, it should have been more of an anomaly for her *Not* To have children, especially since Khulan was not a bushi. 

Kiyoko herself had rather negative associations with the prospect, given her ambition to become a Kenshinzen—pregnancy and child-rearing did not seem like they lent themselves well to continued training with the blade. Thankfully, her parents did not seem in any hurry to marry her off, nor did her superiors.

"How many?" She said, hoping to deflect the conversation back to Khulan.

||
Lilly
Khulan did perceive some of Kiyoko's personal reservations, though said nothing about them.


Instead, she merely nodded, her own familial feelings bubbling to her lips.

"Two. One has begun her studies with our courtiers, while my eldest is well into his training with our scouts."

Folding her hands together, her eyes scanned their surroundings in passing like a bird gliding over a pond's surface.

"Hm, but as scenic as this garden is, perhaps I shouldn't forget myself and disturb it by going on and on about my family."

Her gaze returned to the Crane. Someone who was decent company, and who trusted her enough to share a conversation about home.

"I believe I might be in the mood to sit down for some tea elsewhere." Khulan commented with a knowing nod. "Would you care to join me, Kakita-san?"

While she understood the Scorpions would observe every courtesy in their garden, their ownership hung over it like a circling hawk. Something both she and Kiyoko were quite aware of.

So before their talks got even further without their knowing, she figured she could offer a change in venue.

||
William
*Huh. So she still looks that youthful after giving birth twice—and both of them sound like they are at least a decade old. Then again, she is not a bushi... Who knows what a few years of pregnancies and childbirths would do to my kenjutsu regimen?*

Kiyoko took a leisurely look around. There didn't seem to be any spies lurking about. Still, a change of venue wouldn't hurt. She wasn't sure how much longer she could find enjoyment wandering the garden here, anyway. 

"Tea sounds good," She said. "Is Ide-san thinking of any tea house in particular? I admit I am only familiar with a couple, and one of them is over in the Two Gates district."

||
Lilly
It wasn't that Khulan showed no signs of motherhood. Rather, because her marriage went through at an early age (the way society intended), she entered that stage of her life fairly early on. And so, she had more time to grow into the mantle, going from *Onee-san* To *Okaa-san*.

Beginning their journey out of the Scorpion Gardens, Khulan folded her hands behind her back. And after a few seconds of thought, she answered.

"I was thinking the Twin Trouts, along Downhill. It's classy, but not too lavish, and the tea isn't so fancy that it demands attention. But did you have any other places in mind, Kakita-san? After all, you *Are* The one graciously accompanying me."

||
William
Kiyoko appreciated the leisurely pace that Khulan maintained as the pair made their way out of the Scorpion Gardens. The serene environs the Scorpion clan maintained there had certainly been worth visiting.

What had been the name of that particular tea house in the Two Gates district she frequented? Kiyoko could not recall...

Ah, right. The Kazusue Tea House. Well, she wasn't opposed to trying new things.

Kiyoko shook her head. "I have not been to the Twin Trouts before. I am curious to try it," She said. She did have a tendency to stick with what she knew, so it would be good to try something new.

||
Lilly
"Indeed? Then it will be my honour to introduce you to it."

Once free of the Scorpion Gardens, they could perhaps relax a little more. Not that Ryoko Owari Toshi was the safest of places, but at least the city was a shared space, not strictly a Scorpion one.

As they journeyed towards the shops Downhill in earnest, Khulan did continue their conversations. Simple, but welcome. And hopefully, blending in with the traffic, they'd feel a bit more at ease. Though not as much as in a private booth for tea, of course.

"I will admit," Khulan began with good humour, "It is only the teahouses I am familiar with in this city, even with all it has to offer. My cousin, however, has explored it more thoroughly."

They took a turn which would soon join into the area where one could come across the Twin Trouts.

"And have you had many opportunities to explore on your own, Kakita-san?"

||
William
"I make it a habit to wander," Kiyoko replied, not bothering to look at Khulan as she did so. Crowds still set her on edge a bit—and even if they didn't, she was a bushi. She knew better than to let her guard down.

"Since I arrived in Ryoko Owari, I have done so only within the city. Mainly the wharves and downhill, though I did meet one of your clansmen when I wandered out to Teardrop Island once. He had just come back from some *Gaijin* Land where they ate sheep and had me try some sort of thing called 'hummus.'"

The Crane sidestepped a pair of men carrying a large crate and continued walking, matching Khulan's pace.

"The hummus was not bad, but I think I will stick to edamame."

||
Lilly
Khulan nodded at her response, approving of her focus on her surroundings. It was oddly nostalgic; in a way, this was like her courtship with her Hiruma husband, such as it was.

"Oh? That must be Utaku Takeda-san. I thank you for taking care of him," She remarked, her smile lifting with good humour as she added "And for your willingness to try a new cuisine. Don't worry, the Twin Trouts is quite conventional."

Finally, they arrived. Compared to Kazusue or Benten's Garden, it could be called modest. But ultimately, it was classy without being formal, in contrast to Kazusue's traffic seeing it dress itself up to impress merchants and samurai alike. Here, there were still tasteful decorations and paintings gracing the walls at sensible intervals, none of which favoured any one Great Clan. Indeed, the place seemed like an island of calm amidst the bustle of the city, what with the samurai customers they saw coming and going in relative peace.

Servers ushered in the duo, one of them even recognising Khulan. Before long, they were seated in a booth providing some privacy.

"And thank you for the pleasure of your company, Kakita-san." Khulan affirmed from across Kiyoko as they took their seats on the mats. "They've a decent selection of blends and other refreshments here. Have you thought of what you'd like?"

Perhaps they would pick up their previous topic, perhaps not. But indeed, this was a place for relaxation.

||
William
"Utaku Takeda-san, yes," Kiyoko said, nodding. Though she hardly showed it, she was quite relieved to hear that she wasn't going to be subjected to *Exotic* Cuisine again today.

As the pair arrived at the Twin Trouts, Kiyoko glanced around, taking in the decor and noting that the servants seemed to recognize Khulan. The Ide woman must be a regular here—then again, perhaps she just had a particular air about her that made her easy to remember. Khulan did strike Kiyoko as *Unusual* Enough that that might be the case, too.

The Crane took a seat in their booth, slipping her Kakita Blade katana, *Reitenseiya*, out of her obi and placing it to her right. Kiyoko looked to the servant, then to Khulan. "Mmn. I have not. Do you recommend anything?"

||
Lilly
While she maintained the proper courtly decorum in her graceful movements, Kiyoko would certainly see that the Ide's eyes lit up at her question, and her words picked up the pace.

"Their selection may not be as broad as that at Kazusue, but the tea here is delightful all the same. Flavours that, by and large, most in the Empire would find familiar."

A preamble which might have been unnecessary, perhaps, but there was a subtle enthusiasm in the woman's words. From where she sat, she calmly quoted tea blends to the Crane duellist.

"I would suggest *Sadou* Or *Matcha* For a conventional flavour. But if you have a sweet tooth, *Chagashi* Is quite agreeable."

||
William
"And *Wagashi*, if you have it." If she was going for something sweet, she might as well double down on it.

She looked back to Khulan. "You have been to Kazusue? I suppose it is close to the Two Gates. Probably why the magistrate I met when I first arrived in Ryoko Owari took me there."

||
Lilly
"Right away, Crane-sama, Unicorn-sama!" The server confirmed, bowing low as they slipped out and slid the door.

Meanwhile, Kiyoko spoke on Kazusue and prior meetings. It did bring a smile to the Ide's face, as she remembered prior meetings with Yuto and Kana. Each time, encouraging each one in different ways.

"I have." Khulan confirmed with a nod. "Twice I have met friends there for tea and to grow better acquainted."

Outside, all seemed peaceful, save for the occasional sounds of movement or the clinking of porcelain. The air of the Twin Trouts was more serene, though whether that made it better for tea or conversation largely depended on a person's taste.

"The traffic of Two Gates makes Kazusue popular, to be certain," She mused. "But I am glad that they do not dilute the quality of their tea; they have quite a selection there."

Perhaps not something to say in front of their hosts. But as an ardent patron of tea in general, she gave each house its due like an artist overseeing a gallery.

Curiosity did bubble within her about Kiyoko's meetings, though not to the extent her cousin and fellow shugenja might display. So instead, she eased her pace with a smaller focus.

"And how did you find the city upon your first arrival?" Khulan asked pleasantly. "If nothing else, it never fails to make an impression."

||
William
Kiyoko raised an eyebrow. Was Khulan implying that the tea house they were in *Currently* Diluted their tea? Although, maybe that wasn't a bad thing. Strong tea was its own particular taste, and not one that Kiyoko regarded fondly.

The Crane gave a small smile at Khulan's question. How did she find the city? Kiyoko had been fortunate, in a sense, to encounter a few faces almost as soon as she entered the gates. Given her prior experiences with Scorpion samurai had not been particularly amicable, it was a bit off-putting how *Friendly* The two she had met then had been.
And still were.

"Mmn. It was very busy. Crowded streets"—she never did like feeling crowded—"But I did meet a few kind souls. One, the Scorpion magistrate. I have seen him a few times since—unfailingly polite and cordial. Another Scorpion who was a new arrival as well—I have seen him a few times since then, too. I met a Kaiu swordsmith then also, but I have not seen him lately. I suppose if he is anywhere, he is sequestered in his smithy."

"Overall, a positive impression, I think." She looked to Khulan. "How long has Ide-san been posted here, again?"

||
Lilly
Compared to Kazusue, the Twin Trouts seemed humbler, less luxurious in its offered drinks. But at the very least, their flavours were certainly less overwhelming.

The Ide listened considerately, holding back a nod at the mention of crowds. Kiyoko certainly didn't seem the type to like them, so she sympathised; Unicorns did best with open space and fresh air, after all. 

Where she did smile, though, was in recognising Yuto's description.

"Quite an interesting list of acquaintances!" She quipped in return, moving into her reply as she answered "I myself arrived with the turning of the seasons in spring."

At around this time, the first of their orders arrived: a small box of *Wagashi*, artfully painted and presented with a floral cloth. Soon, Khulan knew, the tea would arrive. She kept her focus on the silver-haired sword maiden before her, brown eyes depicting a depth of peace.

"So I have spent the months here with my duties at the temples, though I have been blessed with opportunities to see what the city has to offer."

A quiet nod was given to the Kakita.

"It certainly helped that my cousin arrived earlier, and his knowledge proved most useful in helping me find my way."

||
William
Kiyoko looked to the wagashi as the servant placed the box on the table before them. She felt her palms grow clammy as she recalled the intricacies of a proper tea ceremony—and her own failure to follow the forms in the years of her schooling. The duelist had grown to hate tea ceremonies; it was one of the few areas of learning she had failed to master. Still, this wasn't a proper tea ceremony, she reminded herself, and let the feeling wash over her.

The Crane turned her gaze back to Khulan. "Was that Utaku Takeda-san?" 

Hadn't Takeda only arrived in the city after Kiyoko had? So maybe the Kakita duelist was misremembering, and Takeda was not her cousin at all. Even so, it seemed like the Utaku had been well-traveled, from what Kiyoko recalled of their meeting.

||
Lilly
While she didn't scrutinise Kiyoko overly to avoid staring, it did seem like there was a bit of hesitation on her part. A moment, but a curious moment.

*Well, it's likely not the* Wagashi *Or the company. Tea, perhaps?*

She decided to keep it to herself, however. Especially since they'd only just met today.


In response to the Kakita's guess as to her cousin's identity, the Ide shook her head, wearing a mild-mannered smile.

"Ah, no. Though I have had the pleasure of offering him some advice. Utaku-san is certainly a good and dutiful man."

She took this moment to distribute the *Wagashi*. They each had separate plates, in accordance with tradition to not mix or share dishes overly.

"My cousin is Shinjo Temujin, a scout of the Clan," She explained, her eyes and tone calm but pleasant, and perhaps a little curious. "Perhaps you might have seen him visiting the Crane Embassy on occasion; he has been cooperating with some of your Clanmates in decorating our guest rooms in the Residence."

||
William
"The name sounds familiar," Kiyoko conceded, eyeing the plate Khulan put before her. "Shinjo Temujin, that is."

The Kakita duelist waited to follow Khulan's lead on when to eat the *Wagashi* And the like, choosing to defer any initiative to someone who *Hadn't* Been terrified of screwing up a tea ceremony since her *Gempukku*.

"Probably not in relation to decorating guest rooms, though. But maybe his name came up because of a visit to the Crane Embassy, yes," Kiyoko said.

||
Lilly
"That is about what I expected, yes." Khulan mused, lightly nostalgic. "He was here before me, and has grown somewhat familiar with the city's streets."

Sure enough, the *Heimin* Server arrived with their tea, though Khulan still spoke while the fresh pot and cups were set up.

"Thanks to him, I know the quickest paths to teahouses like this."

A short but polite thanks was given to the server. And when he was gone, Khulan acted first, gracefully getting the pot and pouring for Kiyoko first. She straightened back in her seat, gesturing to the Crane duelist.

"Please, feel free to enjoy yourself," She said kindly while gesturing to the pot and cups. "This isn't tea ceremony, after all."

||
William
Kiyoko arched an eyebrow at Khulan. Had she been that obvious? A courtier's powers of observation should not be underestimated, it seems!

Though she tried not to think about tea ceremonies, she at least knew enough about etiquette to know what to do next. Or was that just applicable to sake? Well, it would hardly be a faux pas, at least. The duelist picked up the tea pot and poured a quantity into the cup before the Unicorn, mirroring the amount as closely as she could. 

"*Dozo*," She said, picking up her own cup and taking a sip.

"It is good. What sort of tea did Ide-san say this was, again?"

||
Lilly
Khulan took a sip as well, appreciating its comparative mildness. The sweetness rose to more than a note. It was a flavour quite different from most teas, but worth savouring in its own way.

"*Chagashi*. A sweeter blend," She answered, "Similar to the sweets served in tea ceremony."

The cup was set down calmly, the Ide immersed in both the company and the refreshment. Against the tasteful artwork of their room, Khulan's violet kimono offered a simple contrast.

"I've found that children prefer it, but most usually grow to appreciate more conventional blends." Khulan explained with noticeably more investment. "Matcha, of course, is the middle ground: a more herbal sweetness, but not an overwhelming one."

Outside, the occasional sounds of servers and patrons murmured and occasionally filled the air. Through the thin paper screens of the doors, it wasn't hard to take in the ambience.

||
William
"I see," Kiyoko said, eyeing the contents of her tea cup. *Chagashi to go with wagashi...?*

The Ide's next remark drew Kiyoko's attention back to the Unicorn woman again, and a raised eyebrow beside. Had she just compared Kiyoko to a child?

"Only most?" She asked. She mirrored Khulan, setting her cup down.

||
Lilly
Her lips curled into a rueful smile, realising belatedly that her eagerness to explain the tea might have overlooked the company.

"Well. Taste lies in one's perspective. I have known some who believe true tea shouldn't be sweet at all." Khulan said as an aside. Her tone stayed even, still like a storytelling teacher as she added "And yet, sweetness is common among the palettes of my Clan. We enjoy sweetening our teas, from childhood and well into adulthood. Part of what makes our cuisine seem strange, I suppose."

She plucked a few of the *Wagashi* For her own plate daintily.

"I, however, had more orthodox tastes. A result of growing up an Ide, I suppose; we strive to adopt the flavours of our Clan and the others."

||
William
Kiyoko likewise took up a wagashi or two, setting them on her plate. She took a sip of her tea, mulling the taste over for a few moments before setting the cup down again.

The Kakita duelist cracked a rare smile, a lopsided, wry grin. "I enjoy many sweet things, myself—perhaps even prefer them, really," She said, taking up and eating one of the two wagashi.

"Though I do not mind other tastes, either. I am particularly fond of something I believe your clan likely had a hand in creating, called *Choco minto aisu*."

Recent discovery though it was, she was quite a fan of this 'ice cream.' Especially with its mix of bitter chocolate and refreshing mint.

||
Lilly
The Ide brightened up upon hearing of the Crane's fondness for a product of her Clan. Or at least a derivative.

"Indeed? I must confess, that is something which has slipped my attention. Though I have heard that some restaurants and sake houses in this city cater to Unicorn tastes and those keen to try them."

She took up a *Wagashi*, the texture reminding her of simpler times as a child, then later still as a mother.

"Would that be a treat that is made with milk or cream? Both of those are popular flavourings among my Clan, you see."

||
William
Kiyoko allowed another small smile to pass her lips. "I hesitated to ask. Perhaps both?"

The Crane took up her tea again, cupping her hands around the cup.

"I believe the shop is connected to the Daidoji Trading Council somehow. And it does have a few other things it sells—*Kakigori*, for example. So maybe more 'those keen to try them' rather than simply catering to Unicorn tastes."

She took a sip of the tea and fell silent for a few moments.

"I am fond of the place, so perhaps I can take you there some time."

||
Lilly
Khulan consumed the small *Wagashi*, enjoying the lightly sugary taste.

"Hm! It sounds more and more attractive indeed!" She commented. "I had no idea it was connected to your Clan."

Her delight cooled to a more proper sense of composure as she bowed shortly in acknowledgement.

"And I would be glad to visit it with you, Kakita-san. Your experience with it would make it that a most delightful experience. Especially since I'd trust your recommendations for which ones to try."

||
William
Kiyoko nodded. "It was something of a surprise to me as well. If anything, I would have expected it was *Your* Clan's merchant, Ide-san."

A shrug, and she sipped her tea again. "Well, I shall take you there some time, then. I imagine many in your clan would enjoy it, if they have not already been there. Utaku Takeda-san comes to mind. Though he seems to prefer...*Other* Sorts of exotic, gaijin-origin foods. I think he called one of them 'hummus.'"

||
Lilly
"Yes, I can certainly see that. Perhaps a future venture, or collaboration." Khulan mused about the cold desserts.

Nodding sagely in response to her description of her meal with Takeda, the Ide folded her hands together thoughtfully.

"Ah, yes. That's certainly a classic among my Clanmates. Though the fact that it's vegetarian does mean it's something the other Clans could enjoy as well."

She held back on pointing out that many foreign lands had recipes that fit the Rokugani diet, though. Kiyoko's experiences were surprisingly open-minded, but best not to press it too much.

"I take it you sampled some as well, Kakita-san?" She asked.

||
William
Kiyoko screwed her face up in an expression of distaste.

"Yes. It was... Bland, but better than the other stuff he had ordered to his table." 

She had not even bothered *Trying* Whatever haunch of meat Takeda had hanging from a rack at the table—for a Crane, or for Great Clan samurai in general, she was open-minded, but not that much.

"I think I mentioned this before, but I studied at Calm Heart Village for a while, a year or two ago. Strange that I was not exposed to the stuff then, really." 

The duelist's face smoothed out into an expressionless state again.

"Perhaps they were making an effort to hide such strange customs from me."

She took another sip of her tea.

||
Lilly
She smiled genuinely at Kiyoko's answer, as well as the sudden blooming of expression. Much as she loved her Clan's traditions and cuisine, she did not feel overly defensive about them.

"Well, your attempt to sample it is appreciated." Khulan said gently. Light wit entered her tone as she knowingly added "Certainly, I know some of our tastes are *Very* Different compared against the Empire's."

She considered the Crane's statement of her hosts. And she had certainly seen it among her father's wards: the surprise over how 'civilised' the Unicorn could be.

"Indeed. That is the balance my family walks," She confirmed with a hint of pride. "When we host guests from other Clans, it is only fitting that we respect their tastes as much as we can."

||
William
Kiyoko's head bobbed slightly in a silent scoff. *The Unicorn clan's customs were certainly 'different'*.

She was silent a few moments more, then spoke. "I do not know, Ide-san. Although the concessions to Rokugani tastes are no doubt appreciated by most Great Clan samurai... I think when one only shows them what they want to see, there is a certain defensiveness to it."

The duelist took another sip of her tea.

"Wise, perhaps; but one does not make friends when one hides one's true self. Such friendship is only surface-deep."

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Lilly
Khulan's eyes widened briefly. Not because of the opinion itself, but because it came from a Crane of all people.

Nevertheless, her smile remained, awareness and the past in her eyes.

"You aren't wrong, Kakita-san," She giggled. "Indeed, as much as we adapt, my Clan always values a certain degree of honesty in who we are. Even a number of my Father's guests considered us too foreign for their tastes."

She held her own cup close, turning it on instinct.

"And yet, there are times when being too open in our differences can also spark division. Many times, those of my Clan who openly follow our ways among others have faced resistance."

The Ide remained calm and unflappable. Even the weight of her next words didn't break her demeanour. When she spoke, it wasn't that she lacked emotion; she simply held perspective in place of indignation.

"We are called *Gaijin*. Told that we are disgracing 'our true heritage'. Kept apart for it. And in turn, we fall back into our own shells, stubbornly clinging to our ways and refusing to even consider opening up to others."

*Though perhaps for now, I shouldn't mention it was Doji Satsume himself who levelled those accusations at us.*

"Truth has its place, and *Must* For any true friendship to grow." Khulan agreed firmly, conviction showing in her tone, softening it with a playful smile. "But it is in my family's traditions to ask nicely first, then share more."

It was strange to think that she was discussing the merits of cultural compromise with a Crane. Not that she disliked it, though!

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William
Kiyoko nodded soberly to Khulan. "Honesty is part of *Bushido*. Though in truth, I think we are most honest when we are facing one another, katana in hand."

Perhaps that was part of why she liked kenjutsu so much. A bushi revealed himself more through the sword than through any words.

"No doubt there is wisdom in considering how much of oneself to reveal to one's guests," She repeated, taking another sip of her tea and setting the cup aside. She picked up a *Wagashi* And removed the wrapper, then popped it in her mouth.

"Though it is as Ide-san says. Eventually, to go from 'guest' to 'friend,' one must reveal more than is comfortable."

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Lilly
Khulan smiled as she set down her own cup.

"Something we adapted from your Clan's teachings of Courtesy," She commented with admiration, "And two halves of a greater whole, I feel."

Plucking a *Wagashi* Herself, she unwrapped it idly while speaking, her focus on the conversation.

"Each Clan views these masks of the Empire differently, whether they are those worn for battle or for court. To some, they are something to wear and put down. To others, a mould to shape themselves."

The symbolism of the wrapping and the candy just occurred to her, bringing about a slight smile. Sugary treat in hand, she regarded it briefly.

"Still, at the end of the day, truly knowing someone is indeed about what lies behind the mask."

As she partook of the candy, curiosity formed on her expression.

"I do wonder. In your time with the Calm Heart Dojo, how did you view them? How much of their practices were honest, and others the mask they wear for others?"

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William
Kiyoko glanced away, pondering Khulan's words. Was that how she viewed the social masks of the samurai? As things to be taken on and off as needed, or as a role to fill? Hm... For a bushi, it seemed that such things were more likely to be molds to be shaped into. 

One lived into the role of a warrior, with all that that entailed. The attitude, the vigilance, the discipline, the tension between desire and duty...

*Still, at the end of the day, truly knowing someone is indeed about what lies behind the mask.*

The Kakita duelist looked up to Khulan again, still thinking. If a samurai's mask was the mold into which they were formed, was there *Anything* If the mask was removed? Or was it simply that the mask and that beneath it had become identical...?

The Ide's next words brought her out of her contemplation.

"A good question. I think, for bushi, the most true expression of ourselves is in kenjutsu. So, on the sparring tatami, the Calm Heart duelists are honest. They seek reconciliation even with their guests, their students, their foes... But off of the tatami, I think, is another matter."

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Lilly
Khulan considered the white-haired Crane's answer, spinning it in her head.

"A fair answer, Kakita-san," She replied, "And interesting, now that I think of it. For the Ide, the line between their mask and their self is thinner. But we *Do* Control what others see."

She raised her cup to her lips, taking a thoughtful sip. Conversations played in her head, and she found bits of them reflected in the woman before her. Words exchanged with her brothers, her cousin, and even her husband.

What lies in the way of the sword?

"I've found that unique. The courtier acts for what they want to be *Seen*, and the shugenja prays for what they want to *Be*." Khulan explained with cup in hand. "But a warrior's technique, no matter the cause, always reflects some truth about who they are, or what they have become."

She set the cup down with a slight smile.

"Of course, I've known bushi who've told me that I've given this far more thought than is warranted."

She wondered how often this woman thought of such things. Kiyoko certainly seemed most thoughtful here. It definitely reflected the more positive whispers of her school (and contrasted against the less flattering ones).

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William
Courtiers act for what they want to be seen, shugenja pray for what they want to be, and bushi...? 

Bushi fight for what they want to reveal? No... The equivalency really did not work. What did bushi reveal themselves *For*? It seemed to Kiyoko that a bushi's self-revelation on the dueling grounds or the battlefield was more a disclosure of their whole selves. Their actions were a revelation of who they were, from the hours and years spent training to what gave them cause to risk injury or death; to what they valued and to how they spent the limited time they had in each day. 

Courtiers and shugenja no doubt would have offered philosophical defenses of their own perspectives, but it seemed to the Kakita duelist that where words could hide or redirect, actions simply revealed who you were.

Kiyoko probably wouldn't have described herself as a warrior-poet, but she was certainly more introspective than most bushi. She gave a small tilt of her head to Khulan, a nod of agreement. "No doubt there are many such bushi, Ide-san," She said. "I am not one of them."

With an almost imperceptibly-small smile on her lips, she reached for another *Wagashi*.

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Lilly
The Ide returned the whisper of a smile as she raised her cup and sipped at her tea thoughtfully.

"And I am grateful for that, Kakita-san."

Simple words, but sincerely meant. She had known many samurai who simply went with the flow or lived in the now. So those who could take a step back and see the bigger picture were a rare gift.

She looked into the brew, contemplating its hue and taste. How tea may be judged by its appearance and fragrance, but was only completed with its flavour.

"In truth, all professions carry a bit of both sides." Khulan mused. "What we show of ourselves, and what we show the world. Otherwise, we would all think, act, and fight in the same way."

Her gaze turned back to her Crane companion for the day with a knowing nod.

"I've been blessed to see those of other schools in my Clan. To serve with bushi, and be raised by a courtier. Have you had such opportunities yourself?"

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William
Kiyoko shook her head. "My parents are both magistrates in Mura Sabishii Toshi, and the time since my gempukku was spent on the road as a warrior-pilgrim. They teach the basics of etiquette and courtly manners at the Dueling Academy, but that is the extent of my knowledge on such topics. Enough not to embarrass myself while serving as the champion or yojimbo for a courtier, but no more than that."

The Kakita woman unwrapped the latest wagashi and popped it into her mouth, savoring its flavor. Truth be told, she might have liked to observe the daily lives of a courtier, but it was fairly far down on the list of her priorities.

"Although, if we are speaking about 'schools' very broadly, I suppose I have sparred with bushi from many traditions. Iron Warriors, Akodo Kensai, Niten masters, Calm Heart, and so forth."

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