Dark Edge Village

He had thought the plan was to meet at the shrine, someplace nice and open but at this time of night private enough. Plans had changed though and he was to meet the diviner in her tent, something he was slightly uncomfortable with, especially considering the hour.

Still it was he who had agreed to have his fortune read, so we walked quickly but quietly to his destination, in hope he wouldn't disturb anyone who had already retired for the evening.

When Daisuke approached, he could probably see a hue of faint light showing at the entrance from Hotaru's yurt. The front flap was tied open a crack, so that he could easily find the place. She didn't want him poking his head at every entrance. Who knows what people were doing at this time of night now when emotions have risen to a high...for several nights now? That's not the sort of insight she wanted to provide him.

She sat waiting for him until she saw him approached and called out, in case he missed her. "Ichiro-san! Good evening! Over here! Please, please come in." With an inviting gesture, she motioned him to join her at the generous seating space inside. "How are you since we've talked?"

Her tent, thanks to her aide, proved easy to find, and it wasn't long before he arrived in front of it. Offering her a bow in greeting, he accepted her offer to step inside.

"Good evening Bayushi-sama." He replied, offering her a polite smile. "And I've been well, at least for the most part. I hope you can say the same?"

Mamoru, her orange-maned chow chow, let out a few low barks when Daisuke entered the yurt. It seemed the dog was still hyped from the event he competed in. Hotaru tried to shush her new pet by gently nudging him behind her with her foot before bug Daisuke with his protective behaviour.

Hotaru chuckled at the question. "Pretty good, really! It seems that I've earned a new roommate tonight. I never expected to get a dog, really...one of the few surprises I did not foresee during my time here. Please, sit down!" She gestured him to join her at the seating space, where a tray of tea was waiting.

The dog received a small smile, he was merely doing his job after all, trying to protect his master from intruders. Though he had to quietly admit he didn't particularly care for dogs, they could make a scouts job much more difficult after all.

His eyes turned back towards Hotaru as she began to speak, and at her offer he took a seat, taking a few moments to straighten his kimono as he made himself comfortable. "Thank you for your hospitality Bayushi-sama." He replied with a small smile. "And it seems at least from as far as I can see that this surprise is one you think of as a pleasant one?"

Hotaru sat down as well and gave Mamoru a few affection pets over his head to calm him down, calming the dog from acting up further. The chow-chow opened his mouth and panted while keeping his curious eyes on Daisuke. "Oh, hai, very much so! It does make the trip back home a little more bearable now that I have a loyal companion by my side. I'm sure we'll be able to find a place for him at the temple. I just hope he doesn't end up chasing all of the cats out but we'll just have to see...his training isn't done, clearly."

"How have you found the miai so far, Ichiro-san?" She asked curiously, more hinting towards his success here than how he generally felt about the whole thing.

"Well, from what I've seen your off to a good start." He replied with a small smile. "Only a few others here trained their pups well enough that the Unicorn let them keep them after all. I'm sure your temple's cats will be save enough by the time you return to it." At least he hoped so.

"Well, as far as ladies go I struck two of those I thought of as potential matches from my list yesterday." He admitted. "If you were referring to the various tasks set by the Unicorn though. I believe many of them have been outside my range of skills." He didn't yet mention Imane, he was perhaps trying to keep that close still.

Seeing as how barky Mamoru was, she could see him shooing out all of the cats from the Temple. It wasn't bad in itself, but the cats were at least appreciated for the work they did for pest control around the Shining Retreat. "You're likely right about that, Ichiro-san. I've only had him for a day and he's done so much for me already!" She giggled as she reached over and gave Mamoru a few affection pets on his back. Her dog gave her a pleased pant.

"Oooh," she murmured inquisitively at the fact that Daisuke has a long list to begin with to cross people out. It made her wonder if she should be so prepared to have a list like that. "That's...unfortunate, but for the better. You would know best who and who you aren't compatible with. Sometimes, you just have to let go, unless the Fortunes say so. Still! I think your standings are good enough that you will go home with an arrangement in order! Now it's a matter of choice, or making yourself an appealing choice with the right samurai-ko!"

She carefully poured him a cup of tea, a white tea for easy rest after their meeting. There is a full day tomorrow waiting ahead of them, after all.

"He'll make a good guard dog in the future." At least if he got any bigger. "From your words though you're confident you will be returning to your home with your husband then?" Her standing certainly made it likely, but maybe there was a Unicorn man that could make her stay?

It wasn't so much of a physical list as a mental list, and Daisuke had never considered the fact others might not be keeping their own. Why wouldn't you? "Yes, I will be going home with a arrangement one way or another. Though my points are such that if I want to win one of the ladies here, I'll have to make myself appealing. Though I'm not sure I'm very good at that sort of thing." He still had no idea why Imane liked him, as lovely and skilled as she was, she could have any of then men here.

"Hee...I suppose I may be assuming ahead slightly," She giggled. "I would assume that either how we are to be arranged, that the weddings wouldn't happen immediately and we would be given time to clear the affairs in our family before the marriage. It's only customary that we wait a year in between the engagement and marriage before the ceremony happens! Unless, the Unicorn wish to do it differently." And if so, what's their hurry?

"Well, I wouldn't underestimate the likelihood that you might be appreciated from afar by someone else." Or someone a far appreciating someone you know... "Standings are one thing, but there's a social component too, which can be affected. Surely, even someone like yourself must have a least one name left whom you feel confident with?"

He picked up his cup of tea and took a small sip as they spoke, savoring the flavor. It was a good pick or the late hour and honestly he appreciated. "I believe I'm looking too far ahead as well. Being here it all just feels a bit rushed, almost like we will be engaged and wed in a few days time, and off to our lives with our families. new or old. You are right though we should all have a years worth of engagement."

"I do." He admitted, though he didn't go so far as to name a name. "Who knows who else may have their eyes on her though, and with two days of events left, it's hard to say how the standings may change." His lips curled into a smirk. "I suppose worrying upon such things will be of little help though."

"You're not entirely wrong, in spirit." She giggled. "It's a year, but I'm sure that it'll happen sooner than you think, admittedly. I'm sure we'll be looking back several months once we get to that altar and wonder where did all the time go in between. There will be meetings and other arrangements that will happen afterwards where parents or your lord will have to sort of the specifics to the trade. You also have to arrange the ceremony and the celebration, sending out your invitation almost half a year in advance. I've heard the fuss of a few couples who've chosen to get married at the temple. One year is actually short, all thing considered!"

"No, I suppose not, but I imagine that it would only help to talk to your fellows about your interests. If you plant the idea in their head, they might be a little more considerate. Of course, you could ask me to consult the oracle to see where you'll end up in a few days time...or maybe a few weeks?" She asked cryptically before she took a small sip of tea from her cup.

He breathed out slowly. "I never thought weddings could involve so much." Perhaps he should of been considering some of that already, but just finding a bride had seemed difficult enough. "Do you think you'll get married at you temple though?" He had no idea where he might go for such a occasion.

"That might be a wise idea, the Oracle that is." It's what he had came here for after all. "I'll consider chatting with some of the other men about my interests, but I can't be sure how it might go. I'm from a minor clan after all, I don't know how others might feel if I'm picked over them."

Hotaru chuckled at the question. "Well, maybe!" She chirped. Hopefully not. "With my parents gone, one to the cycle and one to retirement, I think I'll have to see to my own wedding. The Shining Retreat has always been a kind place ever since I was old enough to walk. It would be wonderful if I could visit Kyuden Bayushi for once, and have my wedding there. But! One thing at a time, ne?"

"I suppose the trick is to know your peers from your rival," She said with a small smile, as she had a few of her own to contend with. "Anyway! What do you wish to ask the oracle?"

Reaching into her satchel, she withdrew a container of sticks, which she used for her divinations.

"I think I'll let my wife decide, though I think I'd like to be married by the Ocean if I could, for my family and hers it's more then a little bit unrealistic." It was simply too far to travel for almost everyone. "You are right though one thing at a time, wedding's can be planned after we are matched."

He smirked and let out a dry chuckle. "With as high as I need to aim, I think most of those here would be my rivals, there are likely a few that I could consider my peers though, I just need to find them."

"What would I like to ask though?" He paused to consider that. "Will I find contentment with my wife? Whoever she may be?"