Beat the Heat (D2, EA)

[Moshi Asakiko]

"Maybe some other time then." She nodded and saw her full bowl and sighed.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Eat up, Moshi-san. It is quite good," the Hare said and took another small mouthful herself.

[Ryuuta Tsume]

"I must agree. Such unusual but wonderful flavor."

Tsume strives not to eat like her namesake.

[Moshi Asakiko]

"I know... I took a taste but I think I had enough." She was still sick from the silly dinner of the previous day. "It is not bad. It is quite good but I can only manage just that little bite."

[Matsu Kogo]

She smiled at him and his slow progress with Noburu. "Yes it appears we do. Though some in the Matsu would probably also see themselves as strikers. I wonder what else we have in common. "

A small, shuffling step forward, still in his kneeling position. "Ah yes, of course. I meant no slight to the ferocity of your family. I was referring to their heart. Both Lady Matsu and Shinjo-sama were known for their heart, although in different ways. Matsu was always there for Akodo, and Shinjo will always return to us."

His hand inched closer to the big cat's face, cautious but not timid. "Those born to such a name must always strive to be the best they can. A beacon for others to follow. Would you not agree, Matsu-san?"

She nods, her face intent. "Precisely. There is much to be said for both ways." She looks at him, thinking for a moment. "It is true. Matsu-sama's legacy leaves us a long shadow to walk in. To be worthy of her name is to be constantly striving. To find one's defects and cut them out mercilessly, knowing your enemies will know no mercy and exploit them." Her face is serious for a moment. "The key difficulty is when some see something as a defect, where others may see it as an advantage. That is where conflict arises between the Great Clans, in my opinion."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"I know... I took a taste but I think I had enough." She was still sick from the silly dinner of the previous day. "It is not bad. It is quite good but I can only manage just that little bite."

This finally caught Daisuke's attention and he looked towards the Moshi. "Are you perhaps not feeling your best Moshi-san?" He asked after a moment.

[Shinjo Taichi]

She nods, her face intent. "Precisely. There is much to be said for both ways." She looks at him, thinking for a moment. "It is true. Matsu-sama's legacy leaves us a long shadow to walk in. To be worthy of her name is to be constantly striving. To find one's defects and cut them out mercilessly, knowing your enemies will know no mercy and exploit them." Her face is serious for a moment. "The key difficulty is when some see something as a defect, where others may see it as an advantage. That is where conflict arises between the Great Clans, in my opinion."

Taichi nodded at the first part, but at the second he pauses and looks up from his squatting position. It sounded like she had something of import to tell him. His mind rushed ahead. Perhaps something... or someone... was bothering her. Noble spirit aflame, he resolved to ease her burdens. Straightening up, he said "I think that is likely correct. Each person has things that they value, and these are not necessarily shared by all. Has there been something of this nature bothering you?"

[Matsu Kogo]

She nods, her face intent. "Precisely. There is much to be said for both ways." She looks at him, thinking for a moment. "It is true. Matsu-sama's legacy leaves us a long shadow to walk in. To be worthy of her name is to be constantly striving. To find one's defects and cut them out mercilessly, knowing your enemies will know no mercy and exploit them." Her face is serious for a moment. "The key difficulty is when some see something as a defect, where others may see it as an advantage. That is where conflict arises between the Great Clans, in my opinion."

Taichi nodded at the first part, but at the second he pauses and looks up from his squatting position. It sounded like she had something of import to tell him. His mind rushed ahead. Perhaps something... or someone... was bothering her. Noble spirit aflame, he resolved to ease her burdens. Straightening up, he said "I think that is likely correct. Each person has things that they value, and these are not necessarily shared by all. Has there been something of this nature bothering you?"

She looks at him with a sort of puzzled look in her eyes. "It is more a thing of the past. Some would see my lack of display of temper as a sign that I am not a "true Matsu". But I see some emotions as something to be honed and controlled, like a weapon. One would not merely strike with as much force as possible to do damage. One would choose the striking area, the power, and modulate to your opponent's movements so as to do the most damage." She pauses, unsure if she is being too honest, as Bayushi-san often accuses her of being. " A lion does not roar for the sake of sounding fierce, but to frighten his enemy and throw them off balance. If one roars constantly, how would your enemies be frightened?"

[Moshi Asakiko]

This finally caught Daisuke's attention and he looked towards the Moshi. "Are you perhaps not feeling your best Moshi-san?" He asked after a moment.

"I am not my best today. I will manage Ichiro sama." She smiled politely. "I think tomorrow lady Amaterasu will shine brightly upon me."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

He nodded in understanding. "I think i would be in a similar state if I didn't happen to cross paths with Iuchi Saksaha last night. The cheese." He nodded in the direction of the vile substance. "Doesn't seem to agree with me."

[Shinjo Taichi]

She looks at him with a sort of puzzled look in her eyes. "It is more a thing of the past. Some would see my lack of display of temper as a sign that I am not a "true Matsu". But I see some emotions as something to be honed and controlled, like a weapon. One would not merely strike with as much force as possible to do damage. One would choose the striking area, the power, and modulate to your opponent's movements so as to do the most damage." She pauses, unsure if she is being too honest, as Bayushi-san often accuses her of being. " A lion does not roar for the sake of sounding fierce, but to frighten his enemy and throw them off balance. If one roars constantly, how would your enemies be frightened?"

He seemed to deflate the tiniest bit at her response, realising that he'd misread. He did agree with her quite strongly though. Strength wasn't always about who can hit the hardest. "Those who dismiss the the value of control and patience are foolish. If you always respond with full strength, you are predictable. And that can be deadly."

[Moshi Asakiko]

He nodded in understanding. "I think i would be in a similar state if I didn't happen to cross paths with Iuchi Saksaha last night. The cheese." He nodded in the direction of the vile substance. "Doesn't seem to agree with me."

"That milk thing right... it is quite strong and the meat..." She shrugged. "So many spices... and red."

[Matsu Kogo]

She looks at him with a sort of puzzled look in her eyes. "It is more a thing of the past. Some would see my lack of display of temper as a sign that I am not a "true Matsu". But I see some emotions as something to be honed and controlled, like a weapon. One would not merely strike with as much force as possible to do damage. One would choose the striking area, the power, and modulate to your opponent's movements so as to do the most damage." She pauses, unsure if she is being too honest, as Bayushi-san often accuses her of being. " A lion does not roar for the sake of sounding fierce, but to frighten his enemy and throw them off balance. If one roars constantly, how would your enemies be frightened?"

He seemed to deflate the tiniest bit at her response, realising that he'd misread. He did agree with her quite strongly though. Strength wasn't always about who can hit the hardest. "Those who dismiss the the value of control and patience are foolish. If you always respond with full strength, you are predictable. And that can be deadly."

She noted the deflation, but found herself at a loss to understand why. But his next one made more sense at least. "Yes, precisely. Flexibility is key in a samurai, so that they may best exact their duty. The Unicorn seem to value this precept, would you agree Shinjo-san?"

[Shinjo Taichi]

He nods. "Most definitely. Compared to the other clans of the Empire, we are small. This means that each must work that much harder to support the Clan. During our travels we quickly learned that a soldier that can only fight, or a courtier that can only talk was unthinkable. When your home moves every day, there is always something needing doing. It is good to specialise a little, but everyone must be able to help in any way they are needed."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I hope this does not change, now that we have returned. It is a part of who we are, and perhaps something that we can teach to others."

[Matsu Kogo]

He nods. "Most definitely. Compared to the other clans of the Empire, we are small. This means that each must work that much harder to support the Clan. During our travels we quickly learned that a soldier that can only fight, or a courtier that can only talk was unthinkable. When your home moves every day, there is always something needing doing. It is good to specialise a little, but everyone must be able to help in any way they are needed."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I hope this does not change, now that we have returned. It is a part of who we are, and perhaps something that we can teach to others."

She nods. "That makes a great deal of sense and helps explains some things I have seen in the Unicorn clan during the miai. I suspect it could be a handy thing in an army camp as well." She notes his demeanor. "Change is difficult. Hopefully the Unicorn and the other Clans will find much to learn and gain from each other, without losing their essential natures."