Unexpected Visitor [Day 8, Late Evening, Mizuki's]

[Yogo Mizuki]

So, Sutiechi didn't tell her... Mizuki was mildly annoyed, but didn't show it. "Asako Yogo, husband of Lady Yogo, was one of the most powerful shugenjas and cunning generals of the founding of the Empire. He once won an important victory over the Ninth. In retribution, the Dark One cursed him to betray the one he loves most. That is why Yogo left the Phoenix and joined the Scorpion Clan. He did not love Bayushi." Mizuki takes a deep breath. "The worst part of the Curse is that it has been passed down through the generations. Every Yogo is born with it. Sometimes it's simple. Painful, but something that can be gotten over. Sometimes.... it's much worse."

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

Fei's first response held in her throat. After everything she had already seen in her few short years she could hardly be the one to hold disbelief for how cruel powers beyond her mundane comprehension could become. Such a thing seemed, it was horrible. Fei wore this opinion of hers plain to see.

"Then you have been born with this curse?" she asked initially but in the moment she was thinking she had remembered something, "Wait a moment.." she paused, thinking of it for a moment more, "does Suteichi have this curse?"

[Yogo Mizuki]

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK! Mizuki maintained a perfectly calm demeanor. "Hai. I was born with it." Where's that tea? Lazy servants. "Sutiechi-san... It is simply not my place to say anything. Generally, the Curse is considered an impolite topic for conversation. I will say I have known Sutiechi for a long time. He cares for you deeply." That hurt. "I don't think he would mislead you, intentionally. If he told you something to make you ask me that, I believe he thought you would know the implications." Mizuki sighs. "I cannot imagine he would try to hide something that any non-Unicorn samurai would know. Two Yogo are here. Both of us are honest with it. I believe Yuichi-san told your sister about it. And Yogo-shiryo's story did happen before the Shinjo left. Honestly, I was a little surprised no one seems to know." Mizuki shakes her head. "If he told you of his, I can only assume he would have thought you would understand the implications."

At that the servant bring in the tea. Mizuki never hated servants so much in her life.

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

Fei was silent for a long time, but it was not a passive silence. It was clear how she thought on it all. Considering Mizuki's words, Suteichi's words, considering it all very carefully.

"Suteichi-san is.." she paused, looking for the right word, ". lucky, you have a woman like you on his side Yogo-sama. Defending his intentions so well. A few nights ago he told me the story of himself, how he was born to.. someone else. A Yogo. He had mentioned you when he told me this story and now I can see that what he said was true. You are a good friend to that man to have remained at his side for so long," she affirms with a solid nod.

Fei had no problem having said that as the Servant served them tea, but only when they were gone did she continue further. "We Unicorn did not keep texts, we could not move them. Most of our history is kept through stories. It has made things like this, the Yogo Curse, fall from our memories. Perhaps because it is such a terrible thing, but perhaps even more that we did not know it would continue down your family line?" she said, clearly grasping at ideas. Though she quickly shook her head. "But that is outside my training to know."

With a bowed head, "Thank you, again, Yogo-sama. For continuing to be helpful in my own return."

[Yogo Mizuki]

"It is nothing. Both Sutiechi-san and Yue-san are dear to me. If there is anything I can do to help, I would be happy to. For them if nothing else. Though I would like to count you as a friend." One day. Mizuki takes a sip. "I can understand why your people would forget. No Yogo followed Shinjo out, so there was no need to."

Mizuki thought. "There is many things your people probably are not aware of. I can fill you in if you give information of what type of information you want."

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"We are well on our way to becoming one for each other Yogo-sama, as soon as I find a way to repay the favors you have done me," she said, taking the cup afforded her and sipping at it as seemed to be the right thing to do. Still preferred booze to tea but she could manage this.

"I could think of too many things to ask you Yogo-sama, far too many in fact but," she paused but only seemed to take a sip as an afterthought. "Would you tell me more of this curse? While it is still the topic. You said some of the events that it leads to are minor but some are worse. If.." she shook her head, why was she trying to play it down? "Suteichi-san cares for me, so I find that this is a matter I should be prepared for. Mentally, at least. If not physically. I would like to know what I could possibly be dealing with here."

[Yogo Mizuki]

"It can range widely. I had a cousin who as a child offended her father's lord, costing him a promotion. And then there are the ones that live on forever in tragic stories. Mostly, things fall in the middle. It's painful, but something that we can move past. Our Family would have not survived this long otherwise. And it's not necessarily an intentional action. I had a cousin who was two when he knocked over a lamp which caused his mother harm."

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"Then it is possible that this curse can lead to death?" she extrapolated off of the tragic stories note. Needing to confirm herself exactly the breadth of what she was up against.

[Yogo Mizuki]

Mizuki nods. "Yes. But that is extremely rare." Mizuki watches the Shinjo's reaction carefully.

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

Fei accepted that, and thought. Not that passive just looking like she was thinking some people did. No, Fei was fully considering everything this meant. "Alright. This world is a cruel one, I do not imagine I would have expected it to not include death," she said, offering little insight on where that came from.

"Thank you Yogo-sama," she said with a bow of her head. "For what it is worth, I am sorry you were born with this Curse."

[Yogo Mizuki]

"It is alright. I am proud to be a Yogo. It's not that the Curse doesn't worry me or cause problems but... I wouldn't want to be born into any other Family." After all, Mizuki's self-loathing was all focused on the Mizuki part of Yogo Mizuki.

"May I ask a blunt question?"

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"As I have no doubt asked you many already Yogo-sama I could not deny parity," she answered, waiting for the question with a raised brow.

[Yogo Mizuki]

"Does this new information change your feelings for Sutiechi-san? Your preference of marriage?"

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"If I was afraid of danger Yogo-sama," she shook her head, not even entertaining the idea. "I am a Bushi, a woman who has seen some terrible things in my short existence already. The threat that something might be lurking around the corner to try and kill me? That is not something new. I am ready to face whatever that is," she affirmed.

"Out of those I have met, Suteichi-san remains the man I would prefer become my husband."

[Yogo Mizuki]

Mizuki is relieved, though she doesn't show it. "Good. He is a worthy man, and I do like you, Shinjo-san. I never doubted you bravery, but... I have seen the reactions to it when I've shared with my own potential suitors. I hope this miai fairs you both well." She was being honest, though she hid the pain.