(Day 6, EN) In a Mirror, Darkly (Expecting)

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj has reasons to be restless, and so instead of sleep he chooses a night ride in the light of Kaleel... Onnotangu. He tries to clear his head through gallop, and Huludai complies, eventually carrying him far away from the Dark Edge Village, to the crater where the wyrm fell. Once there, Butaj stops his steed and stares into the eerie glow of the moonlit surface.

[Otaku Kitakuhime]

Twice again, the Fortunes have chosen to put Otaku and Moto face to face.

Kitakuhime –– also restless –– has a small statue of her ancestor given by Ryori in front of her. Sitting on her legs in the grass, under the moon, she prays the noble spirits to lead Chi-Pu safely into Yomi once more. She also prays for guidance and protection for the coming days.

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj notices her, but does not disturb. He remembers her anger, dissatisfaction and disappointment. Contrasted with their dinner during the rain, this was like a crude awakening from a pleasant dream. He knows he has been unwittingly complicit in harming her and her plans, and it makes him seem ugly to himself as he stares in the strange lake. He doesn't know what he did in the past that earned him her innocent affection but the fact that it has crumbled because of malicious tongues squeezes his heart. He tries to make sense of this. Whatever her heart revealed, he has kept it secret, like she wanted. Has she been jealous about Khulun, or others? It makes no sense. He gave her his beard, he would have shared more of himself with her if she wanted but she didn't, she said she didn't. And it could not be about waiting because what to wait for, until their spouses are named? Butaj looks at the Otaku princess with pained affection and doesn't understand anything.

[Otaku Kitakuhime]

Honor. It is seldom confused, and sometimes forgotten in face of other values. It is visibly noticeable, since those that carry it stand regal and confident, and difficult to define due to its hybrid nature. It is not only external, but also a reflection of the peace of mind and understanding of selflessness that comes with one's actions. It is a virtue that lights the path of the warrior and gives all other tenants their strength. It removes doubt and provides righteous purpose — always in servitude: to one's superiors, peers and retainers.

It is contradictory with the heart, and illlogical to the mind. Nearly inhuman. Perhaps, it is holy. Maybe, it is foolish.

Princess Kitaku claps in gratitude, and bows once to her ancestor before carefully folding the statuette in purple cloth and safeguarding it inside an inro. With some grass over her shins, the Battle Maiden takes her time to properly adjust her attire when lifting herself up. Butaj was noticed before, and she is happy he did not disturb. When she thinks it is time, the girl gives him a gentle nod, but stays silent, offering the Moto bastard a chance to reach out.

[Moto Khulun]

Some distance away the Moto princess was restless as she waited for the sign from the Onyx Champion and her fateful encounter. Oguro mirrored her anxiety and so the two were out late into the night riding when she spied the two figures by this new feature in the landscape.

She rest her hand on Massacre and watches from some distance away though not actually hiding just not approaching. She was perhaps too far away to hear anything but she could observe as she was sure she could make out both figure and who they were… well she thought she could in the moonlight.

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj dismounts and walks along the crater leading Huludai by the reins, trying to read more of her demeanor by looking at her before stopping at a distance to speak. That focus obscures Khulun being nearby to him.

"Is Sayyeda Kitakuhime still displeased with Butaj?"

[Otaku Kitakuhime]

She nods positively while Gekko walks toward her side, shaking his mane. "I am displeased with what happened."

[Moto Butaj]

"Butaj wants to know what exactly he has done wrong in Sayyeda's mind. Is it about sharing bed with Khulun." He pauses, waiting for any reaction as he watches her closely. "Or with Tonbo Misa."

[Otaku Kitakuhime]

As no one would have the slightest idea what has happened between Tonbo Misa and Kitakuhime, unless there are ninja spies passing information around, the Otaku pays no mind to his close watch, adding, "As I said before, I am no judge to what you do, or the others are doing. These rumors did bring several names on surface that I'll keep in mind. But that is not the issue. The problem is that the lack of proper decorum, discretion and honorable behavior that this miai and the Empire demands us to compel and adhere weren't met. The Unicorn suffered –– only the Unicorn, even if other names circled around."

She closes her eyes, continuing, "You, Butaj-san, is part of the problem. I did ask you to remain discreet. You did –– I hope –– but only partially. Now. Hear well: If you want to bed many ladies, go! I can't say I won't be displeased, but that's no offense to me. Once this behavior starts to create a shitstorm over all of us, then, well, I can't ignore it. There are samurai that might remain with negative points at the end of the miai because of this."

The princess opens her eyes throwing a fierce glare at him. "Do you know what will happen to them because of this failure to keep our faces?"

--
Edit: removed the -Butaj'd- comment, funny s it was, for IC reasons.

[Moto Khulun]

This seemed to be a conversation she should wait out, so she does keeping Oguro steady as she observed the two figures speak. She could only guess at the topic, perhaps it was just a friendly chat… a private friendly totally normal chat.

Nothing to be jealous or concerned about.

Innocent.

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj opens his mouth in disbelief, taken aback by the harshness of her words. He seems to want to intercede to refute the claims she's making but in the end stays silent for the remainder of the speech. At the end, he just frowns deeply and sighs in exasperation.

"Butaj does not understand why Sayyeda takes what rumors say without hearing from Butaj about it. Butaj was discreet, though as we know not discreet enough. But how he could have known how much is enough? And if so many Unicorn were not discreet enough and were condemned and so many Scorpion samurai were not discreet either and were not condemned, Butaj doesn't know how what is in rumors can be basis for how Unicorn kin speaks with each other. If this land and these people are such that some chatter of malicious peasants or other meddlers who go out of their way to put ears on the doors and flaps is all that it takes for Butaj to hear this from Sayyeda, then maybe we are not entirely among friends and long-lost family, and some who we've invited wants this kurultai for pairing to fail. But we have not known this before. Or at least Butaj has not been told."

He looks at her ruefully.

"Why Sayyeda says that Butaj is so keen on bedding women? Butaj knows he won't wed Khulun but has found in her love and support his family has long denied him because Butaj is a bastard. He tried to take care of Sayyeda Khulun after the battle in which she was wounded, and consoled her when her heart suffered after Chi-pu's passing. Is Sayyeda surprised that when kindness and care are, intimacy may happen? Why things that were not dishonourable in the West suddenly are here? Is it that we stop being who we have been?" He swallows a lump in his throat. "And Tonbo Misa is likely to be Butaj's future wife. Butaj's heart aches that those who spread rumors have not respected our privacy. In moments of tenderness Misa confided her wishes and feelings in Butaj and Butaj has shared his with her. Butaj has made no secret about his feelings for Misa with anyone who asked. Butaj believes that Misa and her family need Butaj to help them rebound after times of misery. Butaj thinks he has done what was asked of him, he found a likely wife and has built a strong relationship that could help our alliance with the Dragon. Maybe this was what has troubled the rumormongers? Butaj doesn't know. He met Misa first thing in the morning and asked what she thinks about those rumors and she told him not to mind them too much. He talked with others too." His fits clench. "Butaj is distraught by the injustice of this. How it has been turned against his kin. He has learned a harsh lesson today of how things are done in the East."

He looks straight at Kitakuhime. "But Butaj will tell you straight what Butaj is not. Butaj is not a man to go around and sleep with women. Butaj is not a man who woos women for pleasure. Butaj is not a man to deliberately hurt the Unicorn. Butaj tells this in hope Sayyeda will reconsider her opinion of Butaj. Because she had a different one and what Butaj is hearing now is so different that he can't understand it. He refuses to do so. How it is so that one day Sayyeda tells Butaj that she cares for him and the other she says that she doesn't? Butaj does not know what is the truth then. But he will always put what Sayyeda Kitakuhime says before what other people say. He has long trusted you and he doesn't mean to give up, even if it means only scolding and indifference for Butaj."

[Otaku Kitakuhime]

The girl sneers, blushing a bit. Perhaps in anger. "I am scolding you because I care about you, baka!"

Misa-chan and Butaj-baka... why, how –– Fortunes, she looks up, crossing her arms at her chest, Benten-no-kami is pleasing herself with all this drama. No. the Fortunes are showing us a threat.

Kitakuhime shakes her time and locks her eyes with Butaj. "We may have more enemies than we ever had before. The Shadow, the minions of the Dark Brother, and now: Shaneanigans."

Gekko rears and neighs really loud. Kitakuhime looks at him and nods, replying back to Butaj, "I believe you –– although I dislike you 'intimacy' with Khulun-san –– I believe you. They have slandered us and now made us argue against each other. We must act, and change this scenario before we endanger more of our kin."

There are a couple of blinks. "That doesn't mean you don't own a sincere apology to all the Unicorn participants. Because I believe you do."

[Moto Khulun]

Khulun leans forward and puts some jerky in her mouth as she tries to figure out what could be happening. Was Butaj and Kitakuhime having an intimate moment? Oh that scoundrel… whispering pretty words on one side of mouth and then more pretty words to her out of the other side.

He did not seem her type.. she seemed so… Rokugani.

But whatever was happening she was intrigued.

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj knows better than to ask why she dislikes his intimacy with Khulun even though he now wonders if there is a rivalry between them that has less to do with him and more with other issues. Still, much of what she says allays his exasperation and brings a smile onto his face, though a cautions one.

"And Butaj cares about you too, Princess Kitaku. He doesn't fully understand the nature of the caring we share, so maybe he is truly stupid, but he knows that if such discord ever occurs again between us, Butaj will do his part to make it right. And so he does now, by apologising. Butaj apologises to you for hurting your reputation and that of his fellow brethren by not being discreet enough. He will talk with the other Unicorn too. Over this issue or any other issue, we cannot let anyone divide us." He bows low to her, wondering if she would appreciate it.

Huludai also probably senses Oguro now as he tears off grass with steppe soil with a strike of one hoof.

[Moto Khulun]

Khulun sighs and urges Oguro forward while she chews on jerky.