Morning Music (Early Morning D 3)

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

The woman barely maintained her composure. "I do not agree with that assessment, Akil-dono." She gestured to her wounds. "I am not a liability on the Clan. A hero would not be either!"

[Shinjo Akil]

"it seems they assess our wounds differently," he offered. "And perhaps it is not the worst thing anyway. I always was a better flutist than soldier anyway."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

She shook her head. "You are so humble, Akil-dono! A poor soldier does not become a hero." She scratched the back of her head. "However, you are an excellent flutist. I am sure your suitors enjoy your playing," she trailed off, lowering her eyes.

[Shinjo Akil]

"Actually, I have not played for any of them yet," he laughed. "Not for lack of desire. The opportunity simply hasn't presented yet."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue gave a solemn smile. "I advise you to do so, Akil-dono. I cannot think of a suitor who would not enjoy it." She gave a small laugh at her own expense. "I can only offer horseback riding lessons to the men of other Clans."

[Shinjo Akil]

"I am supposed to teach Doji-sama today. I admit I am somewhat nervous..."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Why would you be nervous? I can tell you will be an excellent teacher, Akil-dono!" She then paused and thought on the matter a bit more. I wonder how beautiful the Doji woman is then. The Crane must be very beautiful in general.

[Shinjo Akil]

"I just don't want to look like a fool," he laughed, "the Ide have done their best, but Rokugani mores are still rather confusing."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue nodded to that statement. "I struggle with it too, Akil-dono." She too laughed. "I have been told that my usage of '-dono' is strange. I thought I was showing people utmost respect."

[Shinjo Akil]

"I think you are? The Ide said you should only use it for daimyo."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Sou desu ka." She cupped her chin with her fingers. "I am unsure if I should stop. The samurai who have gotten used to it may find it strange if I changed." Her eyes narrowed. "New samurai that I meet may question why I did not choose to call them '-dono' on my first meeting."

[Shinjo Akil]

Akil shrugged, "They may consider it a quirk of you being a Unicorn. Or surmise that you were corrected on it and stopped. It is not necessarily a bad thing, Liu Yue-san. They have been forgiving of mistakes, I have found, so long as we show that we are trying."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"This is complicated," she admitted with a sigh. "You are right, Akil-dono. They have been accommodating of mistakes."

She smiled. "Therefore, you should not be worried about your lesson with the Doji."

[Shinjo Akil]

"Perhaps you are right," he nodded and smiled. "I suppose if I worry too much about making a mistake, that just makes the mistake more certain, neh?"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Liu Yue looked up to the sky as she thought on the matter for a moment. "I have noticed that the other Clans enjoy honesty. Their samurai have appreciated my earnest interest in learning more about the Empire." She shrugged. "And learning comes with mistakes, Akil-dono."