Does My Stance Stand Up? (D5 - EA, expecting)

[Miya Mei]

"That is good to hear. The Fox sending someone as high up as you it shows how serious the clan is about alliances. Have you thought of if you will marry in or out?"

[Kitsune Takeo]

"Out if I have my way of it," he said honestly, "I am quite taken with Otaku Kitakuhime-sama, both for personal reasons and more practical ones. The most obvious of which I suppose would be the integrity of the commitment that our two clans would make to each other if the Kitsune and the Otaku were to be joined together through such a union."

[Miya Mei]

"I have not hears much about this Otaku, but if it would take you from the Fox, she must be of some importance."

Mei pauses.

"It would send a very interesting message to the Empire for two of such high standing to the Empire."

[Kitsune Takeo]

"It is my hope that such a marriage would show a firm commitment on the part of both clans," he said, nodding, "And I expect it would be something of a social event to attend. Minor Clan weddings have been in vogue lately," he said, not commenting on the nature of the wedding he referred to, but bringing it up nonetheless.

[Miya Mei]

At the mention of Minor clan weddings, Mei visibly frowns.

"Ah, yes. So they have."

Her response is short and curt.

"Ahem." Well, it will certainly give a grand message of cooperation, that is for certain. I do wonder, do the Fox as a whole have any desire to return to their founding families?"

[Kitsune Takeo]

"It is something we are considering, if the Unicorn are amenable to the same. In a sense, we are part of Shinjo's descendants. In some ways it seems right that we should be reunited. The first oaths our ancestors swore were to her, after the Hantei of course," he said.

[Miya Mei]

Mei nods.

"I would think however one would take pride in the fact your clan has been able to make it on their own without being in the shadow of another. The Emperor gave the Fox a sacred duty, which the Lion then took over. You then were tasked with the guardianship of the Mori. Your clan has done admirably at such task. It is what you are known for now. I would hate to see that reputation forgotten.."

[Kitsune Takeo]

"I see no reason why the Kitsune cannot continue in that duty, even while we return to the fold of our cousins," he said, "We have maintained our duty to both Shinjo and the Hantei over the years. Protecting the Kitsune Mori even as we prepared the histories for Lady Shinjo's return. From my perspective, they are not at odds with one another."

[Miya Mei]

"I suppose not, no."

Mei shrugs.

"I guess if it were me and I was granted a Minor Clan for my actions, I would be quite disheartened if my descendants then gave up that honor to rejoin their originators. Have you spoken to many Tonbo? It would be interesting to see their perspective on this."

[Kitsune Takeo]

"I have broached the subject with Tonbo Misa, who is present," he replied, "And again, the honor was given to us out of the circumstances that were present at the time. Those circumstances have changed. I expect, whatever both of our clans decide is appropriate, that the most Glorious Son of Heaven would need to bless such a reunion. If he, Shinjo-dono and Kitsune-dono all believe it is best," he held up his hands, "There is no shame in adapting to the times that are at hand."

He paused a moment before he continued.

"I expect if the Tonbo had pursued such a course earlier, they would not have suffered such heavy losses in recent years."

[Miya Mei]

Mei gives pause for a moment in consideration.

"One could also say the Tonbo would not have suffered as they did had the Lion been stopped from their illegal actions. But you have many good points. I think we just differ on opinions on a personal level, which is perfectly acceptable."

[Kitsune Takeo]

Takeo nodded, in agreement, but wanted to inquire further - he did so hesitantly, allowing the Miya an out to change the topic if she wished to.

"Certainly that is a possibility. But they were not, and the Lion have been known to be...overzealous...." he said, finding the politically correct word, "one more than one occasion. The Fox were born out of such an occasion. We have survived under the Emperor's mandate thus far, but that mandate did not spare the Tonbo."

[Miya Mei]

Mei hesitated.

"The Empire has many mandates that at times seem to be overlooked, should the outcome be deemed more beneficial. If I may be frank, it is..."

Another pause

"A flaw...I find the citizens of the Empire are faced with"

[Kitsune Takeo]

"Sometimes people defeat the spirit of a law by trading in technicalities," Takeo conceded.

"And sometimes they spit upon the law because they are dishonorable. For my part, and for the Fox's part, we would take no action that was not sanctioned by the Emperor's own decree in that respect."

[Miya Mei]

"It is good you allow honor to be your guide. Though I would be careful how you say some things. If some of the Lion who participated against the Tonbo heard you just now, you might have needed to show your stance again, but not for practice."

Mei shifts her weight in place