Dark Edge Village

One set of guests gone, another guest to prepare for before poetry. This was so much easier when one had servants and multiple rooms to entertain in. Pour out the old tea, get the new tea ready. Smooth out the wrinkles in the blanket. Reapply perfume. Open the yurt door to show nothing suspicious was going on, and await her middle guest.

Hiroji enters the yurt, somewhat uncomfortable. He did not expect to be called to meet the crane, of course he should've expected this and asked someone for lessons in etiquette, but he never had the patience for those sort of things.
He bowed to the crane when he entered. "Good afternoon Doji-san."

Fukawa rose, and bowed politely.

"Kaiu-san, welcome." she said. "I am sorry we have not had a chance to formally meet before now. As you have correctly surmised, I am Doji Fukawa."

She gestures towards the blanket in the middle of the yurt.

"Would you care to join me in some conversation for awhile? Perhaps over some tea?" she suggests.

Hiroji nods. "Yes, I suppose that is why I am here." He moves to sit on the blanket.

Hm, the strong silent type. That might work out well. she considers.

She starts laying out the implements for tea.

"Have you been enjoying the miai, thus far Kaiu-san?" she asked politely, as she prepared the tea.

Hiroji considered the crane's question for a moment, frowning. "It has been... Eventful. And strange. I knew to expect strange, it is a Unicorn Miai after all, but I did not expect it to be as strange as to lead to a battle against a Dragon."

Fukawa finished brewing the tea. A nice green tea, good for an afternoon chat.

"Togashi-san is quite an unexpected opponent, and quite skilled." she agrees. "I would not expected one of his order to be at a miai, but he is quite serious about obtaining his goal."

After all, the wild rumors about Otaku Battle Maidens battling the Water Dragon himself, was clearly the product of truly bored samurai with nothing better to do in the village, than fabricate such rumors.

She looks over to the Crab.

"But you at least have some standing with the matchmakers, Kaiu-san, so there's still a good chance you'll wind up married."

Hiroji shakes his head. "I was not referring to Togashi-san, although you are correct about him being skilled. Both in combat and the arts."
He looks somewhat uncomfortable at the mention of marriage. "The unicorn are good hosts, and noble warriors. I can only hope to be held in high enough esteem to marry."

Fukawa serves the tea.

Wasn't there a blind dragon girl wandering around? Must have been talking about her. Fukawa wonders.

"They are good hosts in many ways." she agrees. "Have you gotten to know many of them yet?"

"I have met some. Though I cannot say I've gotten to know them very well." He sips his tea. "We can only hope that changes."

Fukawa nods.

"Have you met Shinjo Liu Yue yet?" she asks. "Your talk of noble, strong warriors brings her to the forefront of my mind."

Hiroji nods. "I have. She has promised to teach me to ride horses actually. I hear every unicorn expects their spouse to know how to ride. We have also fought together, I have witnessed her skill and strength with my own eyes. It is impressive, especially considering her... Hindrances."

Fukawa nods.

"She said that the Moto have a saying about how a Moto can die, but never yield. Surely, as the defenders of the wall, the Crab have some similar saying?" she asked, not being totally versed on Crab sayings 101.

Hiroji smiles and nods. "My clan has many similar sayings. The carpenter wall has been an inspiration to the few poets our clan has." He sips the tea. "It is an imposing sight, I understand how inspirational it can be."

Fukawa nods.

"It is your family's duty to maintain it, I do believe." Fukawa returns. "Are you yourself assigned to such duties, Kaiu-san?"