Killing Me Softly (D8, LA, Open)

[Miya Mei]

Mei looks at Amaya and leans in, cupping her hand over her mouth, whispering into her ear.

[Ide Amaya]

Her brow furrows slightly. "Perhaps, in Otaku-sama's place, I..?" she asks, troubled.

[Miya Mei]

Mei shakes her head and frowns.

"I am sorry, Ide-san. Do not trouble yourself with it. I will try and tell Otaku-sama later, if I can. Though I think the moment has passed forever."

[Ide Amaya]

She touches her brow, and wonders to herself if Mei's words are somehow linked to a certain ill-fated meeting. "If Otaku-sama is unwilling, my cousin, Samai-san, should be better able to help you than I. Thank you for your honesty."

[Miya Mei]

Mei nods and gives a quick smile.

"I thank you, Ide-san. I will remember that. Please, if you can, do not repeat what I told you. It would make things...complicated."

Mei looks around for a moment for her puppy. Seeing him playing off in the distance with some grass she looks back to Amaya.

"Had you seen an Iaijutsu duel fought before?"

[Ide Amaya]

Her own pup was napping in the grass, it had been a long day and they had worked hard. "Of course, Miya-sama. No breath shall pass my lips on this."

"I have never seen such a duel before. Like a strike of lightning: decisive, devastating, and instant."

[Miya Mei]

"Indeed. It is the main way the Empire handles disputes. And legal actions as well, if the accusation does not have enough weight behind it. Once the duel has been concluded, nothing can overturn its results. I hope the Unicorn gathered here today understand the importance of what they just saw. And I don't mean the resolution to Otaku-sama and I's disagreement."

[Ide Amaya]

Pressing her lips together, "I cannot say in confidence that they truly understand the weight of what has transpired here. We are a proud people, and I worry that a decision reached so swiftly may fail to impact them as deeply as it should." I'm not entirely sure I properly understand, she frets.

[Miya Mei]

"I think what I should say is..."

Mei pauses as she gathers her words.

"It doesn't matter what Otaku-sama and I's reasons are were for the dispute. The way things are handled in the Empire are quite different than what the Unicorn are used to, but it is our law and ALL are expected to obey it, regardless of how swift it was. There is no in between. If a samurai cannot obey the words of the Son of Heaven, then they are not samurai and will be dealt with accordingly."

Mei frowns.

"I do not mean this to sound harsh. I simply mean to warn you all of what world you find yourself in now."

[Ide Amaya]

"Otaku-himesama may be prone to brashness, but she has sense once she has cooled her head. I do not believe she will cause any further difficulties." Two more days, two more and we can leave this place, she was shaking her head lightly, I wouldn't wish to tempt the Fortunes with a question of how much darker the clouds over this ma-ai could become.

[Miya Mei]

Mei wiggles a hand.

"I do not worry about Otaku-sama. I have seen her Honor and know she will abide. I do worry about what you said though, Ide-san. Many will not understand the weight of this. The Empire will use this to its advantage and the Unicorn taken unaware by vultures dressed as men. We have known the system for a long time. And your clan is like a newborn baby just opening its eyes into the world. Not everyone here has your peoples best interest at heart."

[Ide Amaya]

She gives a derisive snort, "this is true, and swords cannot cut through words. I can only hope for kind and wise spouses for each of us who can aid us through such mires."

[Miya Mei]

Mei smiles.

"Thank you. I believe I have, should he be allowed to choose me."

[Ide Amaya]

"You will be an excellent guide. No man should fear the path ahead with you at his side."

[Seppun Hitako]

Bringing a small puppy along with her, Hitako appears, then stifles a curse. She could tell from the expressions, that she had missed the duel. She looked around, then noticed another she had spoken to, and approached Moto Butaj, and gave a bow.