(Day 4, EA) Back In The Saddle Again

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Appearance wise I take after my mother. Her hair and many other features. Though I have my father's eye color and build. They both are in a unit under the same Moto taisa, my father's uncle, who is now getting on in years. My father, Medekhgui, acts as a military advisor to him and my mother, Shigeko, is a trained field medic that serves frequently with different units under my great uncle's command. My mother is one of the most compassionate people I've had the fortune of meeting and that has affected me a great deal growing up. My father has always been a very energetic man who takes every chance he can to enjoy life. It was always a fun time when he was around, though that was less often as he was often out on duty."

[Matsu Kogo]

She listens intently. "I can see that you have inherited your mother's compassion. It is a valuable trait." She pauses. "What others members of your Shinjo family are you close to?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I think an exhaustive list would take several days to get through," he says with a chuckle. "One of my closest friends, who went through gempukku with, was assigned to a Shinjo unit immediately after her schooling was completed. But she was also already married, which happened during training. Nodoka... she likes to get into trouble and drag other people into it. I think every time the sensei gave us a stern speech it was due to one of her ideas. She's probably getting chewed out by her commander right now." He laughs at the thought of that.

[Matsu Kogo]

She laughs along with him. "A mischief maker, I see. I have a little experience with that. It sounds like you were close. Where is her unit now?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Right now they're getting acquainted with each other. Performing drills and such according to the letter I got. They got a few new folks in and she's focusing on unit tactics," he replies. "And very much a mischievous sort. She one time collected up small lizards for a month and kept them all fed so that she could put them all in one of the other student's bed, a student that was deathly afraid of lizards. I wasn't involved with that plot. She knew I'd let the lizards go if I knew what she was planning with them."

[Matsu Kogo]

She laughs. "Only what I would expect from you Shinjo-san. You do not have a cruel bone in your body, I sense." She smiles. "It sounds as if your friend may have a gift for tactics, if not diplomacy."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"That she does. Being the clever woman she is, she tends to think outside the box. I suspect one day she'll be in a command position based on that. Or at least a high level advisory position."

[Matsu Kogo]

"It sounds like it." She chuckles a little. "As long as her mischief doesn't strike the wrong target before she gets there."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"That could be a challenge. She doesn't usually discriminate. I've been the target of a few of her pranks. Though not often because they tend not to work so well on me. Good luck and all that," he playfully. "My luck really is my strongest skill. It's something I like to practice frequently. But that didn't stop her from trying pretty frequently."

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo looks puzzled." I am glad that her pranks did not often work but I am curious. How does one practice luck?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"By thinking positive thoughts of course," he says with a laugh. "I practice it all the time."

[Matsu Kogo]

She laughs along with him. "I think I have not laughed this much in a while Shinjo-san. Your gifts, along with your luck, are plentiful." She smiles.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I'm glad you think so. I do look forward to spending more time with you. I can't begin to tell you how much fun I'm having. So how about your family? Got a big family?"

[Matsu Kogo]

She laughs. " I am glad Shinjo-san." She pauses a bit. "I have a smaller family, but the Matsu are a tight knit family as well. There are my two brothers, both younger, named Hiro and Kateshi, though we call Kateshi Kabu, since he is the youngest. Then I have two 'aunties' who helped raise me along with my mother and their children, who I grew up with like siblings. My father was also away for duty often and died three years ago during the War of Hidden Honor. "

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I see. A relatively busy household then," he says with a nod. "I'm sure your father's loss was keenly felt. I have no doubt though that his sacrifice brought honor to your family."

After a moment of quiet he speaks again. "Will your brothers train with lions like you have?"