[Day 6 Late Morning] Lion Breakfast Time

[Matsu Nintoku]

Normally it was nighttime that troubled Nintoku so it came as some surprise that the morning, usually the literal light that dispels his doubts and terrors away, that brought the ill news. The gossip had sown a seed of doubt inside of him watered by his mediocre results in the trials set by the Unicorn.

He hoped he would find some manner of calm and peace in his breakfast.

[Usagi Tomoe]

Stupid Bantu and that code... ugh... stayed up past my normal bedtime...

While Tomoe felt a headache coming on with the shift in her sleep-rythm, she looked like her normal well-dressed self as she took a trip to the administrative center to hear what today's test would be. She looked at the public announcements along with Ganko, who she held in one hand.

Lances... haha. Nope.

Spotting Nintoku as she turned to leave, the Usagi altered her course instead and approached the Matsu. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Matsu-sama. May I join you?"

[Matsu Nintoku]

Nintoku lifted his eyes from his eyes and set on the Usagi. He gestured silently towards an empty seat across him as a manner of invitation before taking a sip from his tea continuing the silence between themselves.

"Curious past days," he finally said in a polite tone.

[Usagi Tomoe]

The hare and the tortoise looked silently at the Matsu, not quite sure the reason for his silence, but letting him have the moment to decide for conversation or not.

"Curious... like orochi from the skies. Poor Otaku-sama," Tomoe said a little sadly, thinking back to the funeral service yesterday for the dead Shiotome. "... It's sad to think that she was here to find a husband, and instead she died to protect us all."

She seemed to take some comfort in the tortoise she was holding, at least.

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Lion sighed as his mood thawed; it was unfair of him to consider those gossips as anything more than slanderous lies specially when in regards to such a proper samurai like the Usagi. She might relish in teasing him but that does not make her evil.

"I did not attend the funeral," he said nonchalantly as he took another sip. "Though I will drink in her honor. Her death was clean and glorious. I only regret I was not by her side to fight the Orochi."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"It was... a different funeral than I've seen before, but many gathered to honor her. I can only hope that give her some peace in the afterlife," she said solemnly, but did not tear up or lose her On.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to speak of such a dark topic, during your breakfast."

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Matsu was confused before he shrugged at her comment "I wouldn't consider it dark Usagi-san," he stated truthfully before returning to his silence.

"Oh," he exclaimed as he recalled something. "I had forgotten Usagi-san. How is your training going? Have you been practicing your katas?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I have," she nodded, smiling a little. "Thank you for your lessons, again. I still can't stand up to someone who's specialised in the art, but I've been improving. I'd love to recieve more lessons in the coming days, if the time allows."

Not teasing, just being nice and polite. She had shown she wasn't teasing him all the time, after all, as she had been in full serious-mode during training.

"Almost makes me wish there will be some sort of jiujutsu challenge in the coming days. I might just have to give it a try, if it happens."

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Matsu narrowed his eyes in search for some tease before nodding as he noticed none. He had begun to see her as one would see an aggravating younger sister so he had always to be in the look for potential teases.

"I hope so as well," he admitted. "Perhaps I will manage to distinguish myself among the others. Would be a nice change."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"There are a few who would do well in such a challenge," she chuckled innocently. "You, Moto Butaj, Yuzuki, Soshi Yuuru and Soshi Taira. All very capable with unarmed combat from what I've seen."

"Have you tried yourself against any of the Soshi yet?"

[Matsu Nintoku]

"I've seen them. Soshi Yuuru seems very capable in the technical side, probably on par with me." he stated as he recalled his bout against the Moto. "Still I think overall I would have the edge. I'm stronger than him."

"Soshi Taira..."" he tried to recall the man "Can't say I know the man."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I saw him give lessons to one of the Shinjo girls... the one with one arm... I don't think I caught her name. He seemed very capable, and I was surprised he hadn't studied at the same dojo as Soshi Yuuru, but with the Bayushi instead."

Tomoe had yet to hear the rumours of the day, so she didn't mind speaking of her friend.

"It will take some time for me to catch up to Yuuru-san though, and well, he's still stonger than me even if I catch up in skill."

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Usagi was training with the Soshi of course that is why she was in the rumors. Such slanderous lies.

"I see," he took a sip from his tea. "Have you found a worthy suitor yet? I must say I haven't had much luck in meeting suitable suitors for Usagi-san."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Hm, I think I may have taken a liking to Iuchi Dong-Ha-san, but... he is probably highly sought after," she blushed a little. "The number of women here outnumber the number of Unicorn men... and well, it's the same for the men and the Unicorn women too, with the men outnumbering them. I don't think I will be in a position to choose him, sadly, and some of the more eligible women will probably snatch him up first."

Tomoe sighed. Stupid rules. She really didn't want to marry someone she hadn't even met.

"But I'm guessing Matsu-sama has had more success finding someone worthy of himself, no?" the Hare turned to him with a sly smile. Oh yes, she had seen it all, when Khulun had kissed Nintoku.

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Matsu narrowed his eyes once more. This time he was sure there was teasing behind her words.

"I don't know," he deflected her question as he took a sip of his tea. "There are many suitors and I'm at the middle of the table. I do not know what will happen."