Dark Edge Village

The Lion's mood was as dark as the weather in the day the Orochi came. He brooded over his recurring mediocrity in the trials; neither good enough to be noticed nor bad enough to be reviled, a testament to just how bland and plain he was.

He had dared to believe that maybe there he could take back the reins of his future and be noticed. Be the hero that he so wished when he was younger, the proverbial Nintoku. Yet that Nintoku belonged to fairy tales and this one belonged in a battlefield rather than pretending than he was anything more than a tool.

The Lion let an irritated sigh out. He really wish he had some booze with him, at least that would dull the sense of mediocrity.

Nintoku had been noticed, no matter what he thought.

Amaya approached the strange lake, Satsujin was riding on her shoulder. It was whispered that this place was cursed, and even if it wasn't, this was the place where Chi-Pu had made her great sacrifice. It was a solemn place.

Her stomach churned, but quietly she spoke, "Matsu-Sama?"

The Matsu stiffened at the familiar voice before turning slowly to place his eyes on the Ide. "Ide-san," his tone was one of cold politeness though there was a noticeable undertone that wasn't quite clear. "Weird place to take a stroll."

Politely, her stomach feeling like stone, "I might say the same to you, Matsu-Sama. May I inquire what brings you here this afternoon?"

"Introspection," he stated plainly. "I find calm in battlefields and this is as close as it gets."

"I see," she murmured.

The silence stretched out for a long time. "I saw you ride earlier. You should be proud."

He closed his eyes "Of mediocrity?" albeit his tone was calm it betrayed the target of his anger; himself. "I have failed to distinguish myself in any of the trials we've done. I am as I have arrived."

"Mediocrity?" There was genuine surprise in her voice, but it was restrained. "You struck your target, twice, and you kept your seat. It was an admirable performance, and all the moreso for I assume you have never tilted before?"

"And yet there were multiple above me and multiple bellow me," he was a strict judge of his skill.

She restrains a derisive snort, "such as myself." It was not a question, but a flat statement. "I, who has ridden all her life, but only managed to strike once. You do not need the judges score to know whether you have distinguished yourself or not."

"You are a courtier Ide-san," he stated plainly as he leaned back, his eyes looking at the sky above them. "I guess you've found your future husband?"

She stiffened, "what do you mean?" though she knew perfectly well to what he referred.

He sighed in annoyance "So the rumors are true," he felt incredibly stupid; the miai was proving not to be the best place for him.

She drew her fan from her obi and flicked it open with an annoyed gesture. She covered her face, her cheeks had begun to redden. "So you've heard the rumours then?"

"Even a deaf man would have found it hard not to," he replied "The miai is abuzz with the indescretions from our hosts."