Dark Edge Village

Doji Fukawa and Takahiro were on the hunt for Moto Butaj. It seemed impossible that one with a presence of his size could be missed, and yet she had not seen him. He was not out riding his horse. His voice was not leading you to him with a song. There was no music in the air. No screams of pleasure from his Yurt, or any of the likely candidates.

Where was he? The shrine seemed an unlikely choice, but it was that or start knocking on random yurts.

Great heavens and endless skies, you see this and you don't send thunders? Butaj is quietly and solemnly... praying! Kneeling by the little shrine to Musubi-no-Kami, he brings his supplications to the highest powers of this world to grant him that one particular outcome of this bedarnest miai.

Well, things did tend to be in the last place that you looked for them. Fukawa had her own prayers of thanks to offer, but she tried her best to time it so she could speak to Butaj after he finished his.

And so when he rises and turns and sees Fukawa he is surprised! "Oooh, Doji Fukawa! ...-san. Hello. Are you here to pray?" He smiles, but also tilts his head with a dose of caution. This one has taught him not to throw caution to the wind around her.

Fukawa bows politely to the Moto.

"Good morning, Moto-san." she offers politely. "For prayer, of course, because I have been very thankful for how this miai has turned out, but I must admit, I was also looking for you."

"And to what does Butaj owe the hono~u~r?" He has trained this sentence for just this occasion, so he grins once he says it, then remembers to add postponed bows.

"Well, the followup to our last conversation, Moto-san." she reminds him. "Tomorrow we will all be busy with the end of the miai, and I have not yet heard how your gift giving went."

Butaj recollects and counts to three on fingers. "All of them went good, though only one was by the rules. In other cases there was no doubt Butaj is honest and determined because of how Butaj behaved in general, and the acceptance went quickly. The gift-giving is fun but Butaj has found not always necessary. Though if Butaj were to offer Fukawa a gift, he would follow all the rules. Different people appreciate different things and Butaj assumes Fukawa enjoys when all moves go like between strangers in court." Butaj smiles. "Butaj is grateful for that lesson."

Teachable but not tamable.... Fukawa thinks. Then again, Butaj had grown up without the rules of etiquette, and he had just enough samurai stubbornness in him to never fully accept them. Fukawa would have to remember to pray for whomever his poor wife was.

Fukawan nods.

"I'm glad you were able to get some use out of my advice, Moto-san. I hope that after the miai you will consider exchanging correspondence with me, as I will be curious to know how your life in the Empire proceeds. To see things I am familiar with freshly through your eyes." she offers.

"Correspondence?" He rubs his stubble. "Ah, letters. Writing, hmmm. Butaj thinks it's a good idea. He has planned to improve his writing anyway. But they may be messy before they get good. Would Fukawa promise not to show them to anyone else?" He looks at her with a thoughtful pout.

Fukawa nods.

"At least the calligraphy." she offers. "I'm sure some of the things you will write about will be worth sharing with others."

"Of course." Butaj laughs. "So Butaj will have to keep the thoughts he will put in the letters not too scandalous."

"I appreciate that, Moto-san." she says, honestly. "Hopefully, tomorrow your match will be a happy one. I definitely want to hear about how married life sits with you."

"Butaj wishes Doji Fukawa a happy marriage too. But looking how things are on rosters and what songs were sang, Butaj assumes you have taken good care of it already." He smirks. "Butaj thinks married life will sit very well with him if it is with Asako Yuki. Butaj prefers not to think too much about how things will be if this doesn't happen." His hand grips the fan behind his belt. "Lady Benten should not allow anything else."

Fukawa nods.

"A straightforward, honest man with a desire to learn? The Phoenix could use many Moto Butajs, but even one will help." she says.

She looks curiously at Butaj's belt.

"Is that a fan you have there, Moto-san?" she asks.