Dark Edge Village

As the young samurai taking part in the miai arrive in Dark Edge Village, they are directed toward the Administrative Center, where a number of their peers have already gathered in a small crowd. The village's governor, Ide Dabo, stands at the front of the crowd, his hands crossed in his sleeves as he smiles and nods to those who meet his gaze.

"Welcome, my friends!" His voice is strong and filled with the same warmth that touches his eyes. "As you are aware, this is one of the first formal events to be held by the Unicorn Clan within the boundaries of the Empire. We have been gone for many years, but already we feel at home, for we have been welcomed back with open arms."

He pauses to allows his gaze to wander across the crowd. "Our ways are much different from the ways of the Empire, but some things are inherent to a samurai, no matter where he may ride. Honor. Courage. Compassion. Courtesy. Duty. Sincerity. Honesty."

Dabo places a hand on his chest, over his heart. "When you are faced with customs that seem strange to you, that you cannot understand, that seem confusing or even offensive to your sensibilities, please keep this mind. We are family, and though we have been separated for many years, the bonds of blood are stronger than disagreements and misunderstandings. I ask that during the next few days, we all keep understanding and compassion in our hearts."

The Ide allows his words to sink in for a few moments before speaking again. "Each of the families of the Unicorn will be presenting two events during this miai. In addition to allowing us to gain a better understanding of your capabilities so that we can best match you with a suitable spouse, it is our hopes that these events will give our distant cousins a greater understanding of the Unicorn as a whole."

"To that end, the first event will be a welcoming dinner held this evening. This event is sponsored by the Ide, who have for centuries encouraged greater understanding and peaceful relations between the Unicorn and the various tribes we have encountered in our travels. The sharing of food is an important ritual in every civilization we have encountered. We hope only that this will be the first of many such meals between our Clans."

Yuki was there, in as fresh of an outfit as she could manage for having just traveled all this way and with no baths in sight. She was going to have to figure something out for this problem. Ah well. The young Phoenix listened intently. Nodding vigorously as the Ide talked of the tenets of Bushido, smiling when she heard that the first event almost wasn't an event at all, but a banquet of sorts. She'd read up on the culinary techniques of the Burning Sands, and was eager to try them out herself.

Mirumoto Chou's skin was still rosy from the scrubbing she had given herself and Saku--and the lemur hadn't liked it much. She could feel the black and white animal's pout from her shoulder, a nice compliment to the new nip on her forearm. She'd have to assume the effort was worth it, and Saku's pelt was shiny. She hoped the Unicorn would be a little more appreciative.

Ide-sama sounds handsome, she mused. I wonder if he's also for sale. Dragon bushi on a discount, everyone!

Chou surreptitiously sniffed the air, hoping to hone in on leather and fur nearby. It was time to "chance" upon a Unicorn bachelor. She'd have to teach Saku how to find one in the near future.

Monkhbaatar was present for the opening ceremony and speech and looked on the Ide with pride. His words resonated with the young Shinjo and he was happy to hear them spoken aloud. Certainly all the other samurai present must feel the same.

As he finished his words the Shinjo wandered about those attended to look for someone he might be able to meet. The sight of the lemur stood out to him and so he decided to approach. Upon closer inspection the woman that it was with seemed blind. But also carried a daisho just like the Unicorn champion. Impressive.

He moved close enough to greet her. "Hello there. I'm Shinjo Monkhbaatar. It's nice to meet you. Do you mind if I ask who you and your little friend there are?"

The teeny tiny Matsu was present, listening. Arms folded across chest. Ever so slight smirk on face.




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Shinjo Akil was at the opening ceremony, of course. He stood stoically as he listened to the Ide's speech, trying his best not to seem too uncomfortable in the formality of the current situation. How do the Ide just stand like this for so long?

The young Crane stood, straw hat shading her head from the beating rays of Lady Amaterasu and fan waving back and forth wildly to create a semblance of breeze, as the Ide spoke. She was still having quite some difficulty telling the various Unicorn 'families' apart - though she suspected the hairiest she had seen wandering around to be members of the barbarian Moto. From Dabo's words, she decided the Ide must be the voice of the clan, not unlike the entirety of the Crane were for the Empire.

"Hm." She continued to fan herself at the dinner announcement - she'd heard stories of what the Unicorn called food; she'd have to prepare herself for a public meal with a blessing from the kami. Just to be safe, she decided.

Matsu Yurio wrote:The teeny tiny Matsu was present, listening. Arms folded across chest. Ever so slight smirk on face.




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Samai smiled as she listened, thought she tried to reign her expression in. The learned that an honest smile was worth a hundred honest words, but in her home land (Shinjo's hooves, home land... she never thought she would actually see it!) it seemed that a certain restraint was expected.

She looked up at DAbo, his words resonating. Bushido. The tenets. They carried those through their almost unending journey.

Noticing a blonde Lion, Samai moved closer and gave him a bow. "Greetings Lion-san."

Near the back of the crowd standing outside, Otaku Chi-Pu sat atop her steed and watched over everyone. She sat in full armor and dressed for battle; her armor polished to shine brightly, her white back banner bleached to a brilliant clean, and her face a picture of beauty from the expertly applied makeup. As the Ide spoke, she listened intently, but her gaze continually moved over all those gathered.

Her steed, Tianma, stood relatively still, only her tail twitching every now and then. Her brown hair shining in the sun from sweat. Chi-Pu held Tianma's reigns lightly in one hand, resting both in her lap.

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Ide Samai wrote:
Noticing a blonde Lion, Samai moved closer and gave him a bow. "Greetings Lion-san."

She received a bow in return. Not totally without grace but definitely of military precision more than courtly manners.

"Unicorn-sama, greetings. I am Matsu Yurio."

Rising from his bow and suddenly quite uncomfortable on where his natural eyeline settled on the Ide woman, he leaned back slightly adjusting his view point upwards.

Yuzuki was present. Her attire was clearly expensive. A high quality and fashionable kimono-hakama-haori combo, with plenty of jewelry. You might mistake her for a Crane or Imperial, if not for the fact there was something a tad 'off' about how she was wearing it. Rebellious, one might call it. Cool, another could call it. Plain scandalous, the conservative faction might say. Regardless, it was easy to mistake her for a courtier. Until one noticed the daisho... and pair of kama at her sides.

"What are you doing here," she said as she looked down to see Kon by her legs, "you stupid cat."

She bent down, and picked him up; then looked back up to notice the Ide had finished talking.

"Ide Samai, Matsu-san." She took up the challenge of trying not to look down at him or look above him... it wasn't easy, and the Lion in general seemed prickly.

"I am quite thankful that you honor us with your presence. I hope that you did not experience any problems during your journey here?"

Ide Samai wrote:"Ide Samai, Matsu-san." She took up the challenge of trying not to look down at him or look above him... it wasn't easy, and the Lion in general seemed prickly.

"I am quite thankful that you honor us with your presence. I hope that you did not experience any problems during your journey here?"

"The journey was shorter for me than most of your guests. Not far to travel at all, and these lands are not known for any banditry or such."

Not when it was our land, anyway.

"How have you adjusted to your new homes?"

"Mhm, hai, we are thankful for the stewardship of these lands, we are certainly most blessed for the work you have done." Samai's smile was genuine and wide, full-bore, before she realized and reined it in.

She opened her fan, the motion was definitely artificial and unused. "It's a breath of fresh air." She looked around the field slowly, lost in thought for a moment. "It's.... new. Yet old. Sometimes I'm still surprised when I wake up each dawn and see the same room as yesterday." She looked him in the eye, curiosity glinting.

Ide Samai wrote:"Mhm, hai, we are thankful for the stewardship of these lands, we are certainly most blessed for the work you have done." Samai's smile was genuine and wide, full-bore, before she realized and reined it in.

She opened her fan, the motion was definitely artificial and unused. "It's a breath of fresh air." She looked around the field slowly, lost in thought for a moment. "It's.... new. Yet old. Sometimes I'm still surprised when I wake up each dawn and see the same room as yesterday." She looked him in the eye, curiosity glinting.

Yurio's eyes followed the fan opening, before looking back up when she stopped talking for a moment.

"The barracks are always the same, as are the army camps, but each day is different to the one before. Wait for a full change of the seasons and see how this place changes."