[Match Observation] I Choose You! (D11, LM)

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"You will always have a piece of my heart." he whispered as she turned away.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Please excuse me, minna-san," Tomoe bowed to Tsukimi, Kogo and Monkhbaatar. "One of my friends is standing alone now, and I can't have that."

Moving subtly through the people, the rabbit stopped by Yuuru's side.

"You look like you could use some company, Yuuru-san." She offered a friendly smile.

[Soshi Yuuru]

He offered a half-smile in return. "Morning, Usagi-san."

[Miya Mei]

Mei smiles and shows Kemuri his fan, opening it for him. She completes her turn and closes the fan, tucking it into her sleeve and then finds a somewhat secluded spot to sit to observe the remainder of the choices.

((Open to being approached.))

[Usagi Tomoe]

He offered a half-smile in return. "Morning, Usagi-san."

There wasn't much she felt she could say, other than being a supportive presence for her friend.

"I have some of Usagi Takeo-sama's Blushing Winter Orchid sake back at the tent if you want something to drink after all this."

[Soshi Yuuru]

He tilted his head, "Maybe... but then I'd just screw up your love life too. Though I have a pretty strong aversion to anything dealing with sake at this particular moment..."

He sighed, "Imagine going through every contingency... I'm sure you probably did. And at each turn.. the worst possible thing happened."

He chuckled, "That's been my day so far. And this next one... that's gonna be the worst."

[Iuchi Batul]

"This one chooses... Iuchi Batul-san as my wife, to share in the name of Otomo, to enter into the ranks of the Imperial Families, and to join me in honored service to the household of the Son of Heaven and His family." And with that weight lifted off of his shoulders, he finally looked to where Batul was in the crowd, a soft smile crossing his face as he turned to the governor, offered a final bow, and then departed the central area and started to walk over to join in the company of his wife-to-be.

The words came to her time and again. Her heart beating in her ears, she felt as though the time had stopped and all eyes on her. There was a sudden realization and a blush that crawled up her chest into her throat. She had tried to be prepared but she had not fully mentalized. Then his smile reached her and time started to flow again.

Tenzo closed the distance between them. She awaited himbsteady with her arms hidden in the opposite sleeves. She held her head high and smiled back at her to-be-husband. She did not dare turn her face from him in what seemed days that he walked towards her. And when they reached each other, her smile illuminated them both and her hand left the sleeve to rest on his arm.

"I will share your name, your home and my devotion with you, Otomo Tenzo-San. I will serve you like I will serve the Embire, like I have served the Unicorn to this day." She blushed through her accent though she had tried to pick words that would not reveal it.

[Shosuro Yawarakai]

When her eyes open, they instantly lock with Yawarakai's gaze. She's tempted to turn them away. Her heart races and memories from the moments she shared these last days flood her mind with whispers. She lets go of the fan, trying to steel herself –– perhaps follow Butaj in his vengeance.

She does not. However.

Kitakuhime bows low to Yawarakai, and opens a porcelain smile. The soon to be undone Otaku princess nods to her sister and walks slowly toward the Painted City Governor, staying at his side.

When the next one comes to claim their match, she offers him her cracked fan.

Yawarakai takes the brittle piece of wood and paper with a smile and slips it into his obi with a bow. From his own, he produces a fan she had seen once before. A painted fan from the painted governor.

[Ichiro Daisuke]

Imane had been expecting to see Kitakuhime chosen before Butaj, purely due to their relative rankings. She realised that her friend had never confided his feelings to her, and hoped that this was a match he could be happy with. She tried to judge his reaction, but there were people in the way so she could hardly see him.

Idly she wondered if a) she would ever grow a few more inches taller, and b) this sort of drama was why the samurai here were so keen on their fans.

Daisuke however was aware of both Butaj's an Yuki's feeling, and as he heard the Bayushi's decision he leaned in to whisper near her ear. "He will not be pleased with this. You may want to attend to him." He wouldn't move himself though, he didn't know the man well enough.

The following actions concerned him a bit, he had liked the Asako, though he had only met her a few times, and of course he liked Hotaru as well. This waa quickly followed by Kitakuhime being picked, and he couldn't help but think she didn't like her match.

It seemed this would be a difficult time for many of the people here.

[Soshi Yuuru]

Yuuru watched as Yukarin walked to the staging area and made her choice. He shook his head in consternation.

She chose convention... boring, stifling, rich pretty-boy enslavement... She'll regret it.

He chuckled through his nose in exasperation and asked Tomoe, "Does no one in this damn clan think of their Duty to their family above their own personal nearsightedness? It's like everyone has gone mad..."

He looked around, "Otaku princesses taking minor clan scouts over imperial princes... Ide women storming out when their boyfriend gets picked ahead of them... outlandish outbursts when a perfectly respectable Bayushi priestess gets between them and 'twue wuv'? And now someone picking the Yasuki for his money... when what her people need is alliances and neighbors who are willing to help them with the problems that confront them... This is a circus, not a miai. Has the giant tents and everything... just need some acrobat troupes."

[Ide Samai]

The imperial straightens his kimono in a rigid manner and walks to the middle, back straight, head held proud. He bows appropriately to the organisers and his fellow samurai. He does not look for those peculiar pair of eyes.

"I, Seppun Aramoro, would be honoured if this one will be excepted into the Ide-family of the brave Unicorn clan by offering himself as a husband to the most eloquent rose, Ide Samai."

He waits for her and their nod in acceptance, then moves over to Samai with a sincere smile.

Samai smiled politely and started making her way to her... paramour? While she was walking there seemed to have been a commotion... like everyday at the miai. Her dutiful part wanted to go there and separate everyone and make nice, but... this was also her Duty. Her clan can wait. It had her attention during the miai. A few moments alone with her betrothed will not change that.

"Seppun-san." Bowing deeper than needed, she expressed gratitude. "The day has come, no?"

[Moto Butaj]

Through music, Butaj calms himself to manageable levels. He rises and with the greatest difficulty he moves away from the Phoenix. His moves are stiff and mechanical, but no longer project aggression.

(Butaj can be approached)

[Kitsune Takeo]

Takeo stepped forward, looking out of the corner of his eye towards Kitakuhime. He had failed her. They had failed each other. And now she was a prisoner to the Scorpion in every figurative sense of the word. Her soul would wither there.

Why was he so angry? With her stripped of her birthright, this was no great political loss for the Fox. Unless...

Oh. This is what love feels like.

Fuck Benten.

As he took his place, he looked out over the crowd. He knew almost nothing about the remaining women, having spoken to the two Shinjo ladies only in passing and neither of them having any sort of station. Even a political match was beyond his reach at this point. Cursing internally, he spoke from behind his steely on.

"In the past days, the Fox have come to recognize true family in the form of the Unicorn. Though they have been gone for nearly 800 years, we recognize ourselves in each of them. We have been, and continue to be, impressed by them, each in their own way. The strength of the Moto. The integrity of the Shinjo. The wisdom of the Iuchi. The diplomacy of the Ide.
And the honor of the Otaku," his eyes flicked, ever so briefly, to Kitakuhime.

"And we are especially impressed by the efforts that the Ide have put forth in planning this wonderful miai. In order to renew our commitment to our ancestral kin, I shall take Ide Amaya as my spouse, that she may return to the Kitsune Mori and learn of our ways as the Ide have been kind enough to show us theirs."

[Moto Khulun]

Khulun chuckles lightly at the choice of the Fox prince, that was off to a good start.

Obviously.

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe gave her friend a supportive nod, thinking back to how Hideo and Amaya walked away after the first round of choosing by the Otaku Cavalry. Had the same happened to her, she would feel devastated... but no, she'd not give anyone the satisfaction of showing it. And Duty would in the end have to win. At least she had done all she could before today to find happiness with her Duty.

Poor Yuki... but even more, poor Hotaru. Choosing to become the villain there...

"Some of it is the reality of this competition, sadly," she murmured quietly behind her fan. At least the Scorpion had secured a good match with Kitakuhime. "... They don't see the true value of a Soshi magistrate."