Dark Edge Village

Butaj still has some lamb to share, and he hasn't talked with Khulun for a few days... Well, there were reasons, but some things sorted out themselves. "Sayyeda?" He calls by the flap. The beard has been growing back nicely.

"Butaj, come in," she says while laying down on some furs.

She props herself up on her elbows and says, "Looking well."

"And you're feeling well. Has it been a good day, Sayyeda?" He smiles seeing her after moving past the flap. "Hungry for dinner? Butaj brings spicy lamb."

"Dinner sounds good," she says with a smile.

"It's been a day, neither good or bad, and yourself? Charming the ladies you wish to charm?"

Butaj brings a tender lamb haunch on a wooden plate to Khulun's hands and sits nearby. "Charming and being charmed, but the lady is just one now. Butaj knows who he wants to be his wife." He grins. "Butaj has heard something about Khulun finding a fierce man for herself too."

"He is... fierce and strong, yes," she says accepting the plate.

"If things work then we shall be a strong unit. What of your woman, which one has you wishing to be good husband?"

"The one who sang for Butaj, Asako Yuki. She's a warrior and a rider, she is learned and has heart and mind open for who we are, she is passionate and determined and loves Butaj deeply." Butaj beams. "Butaj hopes we end up together."

"I hope the Fortunes favor you, there is a great deal of... obstacles ahead for such a match," she says honestly.

"Yet love is love is love, is love."

"Butaj has taken effort that there will be as little as possible. It's Butaj's love and lifetime at stake after all." He admits.

"If I can help, just ask. I am so happy you have found someone that you will love. That's a great match, bring our ways to the Phoenix," she says with a smile.

"And their knowledge to the Unicorn." He smiles. "Yuki speaks Mekhem better than Butaj." He strokes his growing beard, thoughtful. "Butaj more or less knows what to expect toward Butaj from the women who will be picking before Yuki. With Doji Fukawa and Bayushi Hotaru it is assumed, but Yuki speaks with them too. We have also made clear that we mean it during singing." He looks up. "One worry of Butaj is not for him but for Tonbo Misa. She has decided not to marry Butaj so as not to prevent him marrying Yuki even though she has cared for Butaj deeply too. And now she's without a good match. How Khulun thinks, ho would be the best for Misa?"

"I have only seen her once, are there none that she favors, outside Sayyed Butaj?" She asks.

"It seems so. Butaj had made a deep bond with Misa even before his love with Yuki exploded, and so she was not seeking others. Now that Yuki and Misa talked and Misa decided to let Butaj and Yuki be together, Butaj thinks she did so without thought of herself but out of love for Butaj. And that makes Butaj feel like shit of a sick goat." He sulks.

"Well everyone can't get what they want," she says honestly.

"If everything works out, you should honor her selfless choice."

Khulun adds, "Still I would see her matched well. Any cousin come to mind?"

Butaj isn't entirely convinced, but he trusts Khulun's judgement. "Hanashi sang for her. But he may be picked by Seppun Hitako. Kemuri seems to be in a love-match with the Imperial who cut Kitaku... She needs a good warrior, protector of her struggling family, and while she has her resilience she needs to be cared for by someone who accepts her sightlessness."