(Day 7, EN) I Can See Myself In You

[Usagi Tsukimi]

She fell into the embrace, and let out a small but happy sigh.
"It is all that I can give you."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"If you feel that way, then I'll accept it. But to me it will be just a pleasant reminder of this miai and our time here together. Whether we spend a lot of time, some time, or no time together in the future... I'll always have this," he says rubbing her back gently. "For now, while we're here, I'll be happy to just get to know you better. "Tell me about your family?"

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"Thank you, Monkhbaatar-san." She became quiet for several moments, and squeezed her eyes shut.
"My mother died, during my birth." Her eyes opened to look up at the stars in the sky. "My father could not bear the sight of me, I had broken his heart by taking his wife from him, and so he sent me to his sister. My aunt Yusayo raised me as her own. She is a proud and strong woman, independent, unwed even now. We joined the Hare just after its inception. She made sure I learned how to track, how to hunt, how to move quickly and with athleticism. She brought me to tutors, we travelled, she made sure I was happy, always. She sent me here... to find happiness."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I'm glad that you had someone so caring looking out for you. Your aunt sounds like a wonderful woman. I'll have to meet her someday to tell her what an excellent job she did in raising such a fine young woman."

[Usagi Tsukimi]

She blushed, and leaned into him.
"I would like that very much. You and she would get along, I think. She always said I brought her luck. I hope I bring you luck as well."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"If I had much more luck in my life I'd probably be taking it from someone else." He chuckles at that. "After all, I've gotten to meet you here. Among meeting so many other people I've been very fortunate. Even more so that I'll get to spend my life with one of those I've met."

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"I'm sure you will be very happy with your wife." Tsukimi considered for a moment, wrinkled her nose, and dove in.
"The Matsu-san. She sang for you as well. She seems like a strong, admirable type."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"You and her have similar interest in traveling the empire in the future as part of your duties," he replies with a nod. "And you are both wonderful women. It's been wonderful to get to know both of you. Perhaps if you get a chance you should speak with her. I think you might get along."

[Usagi Tsukimi]

She gave a pensive smile.
"Monkhbaatar-san. I adore you. I don't know... if it would be civil to confront another samurai-ko who also adores you." she explained honestly, and looked down at her hands in her lap.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Then don't confront," he says. "Things will end up how they end up. For all we know, one of the females I haven't met here may choose me if her previously preferred options are exhausted, or male Unicorns may do the same for either or both of you. That wouldn't be ideal, but it is a possibility. It's important for everyone here to accept that and not hold it against someone simply trying to serve their clan's interests by their selections. It's best not to let a single belief or feeling a person has stand in the way of potentially making them a friend should they share more in common than not."

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"I am not here to seek ill of anyone. Should another samurai-ko choose you, I will be happy for you both. Should Matsu-san and I find friendship, I will be happy for us both. If she sees in you what I do, if she longs for adventure and excitement as I do, then we are well met. I am forever looking for the silver linings in whatever oncoming storms I may face, Monkhbaatar-san, and I hope that you see that optimism in me." She leaned into him again.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I do and it's appreciated. I've been told that I tend to be a very optimistic person myself so I enjoy it," he replies."

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"Optimism can carry one through the darkest moments of life. Sometimes, it is all one has. So it is worth fighting to keep."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"As long as you're alive you also have your life," he replies with a wink. "Even when you don't have optimism you still have that."

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"But is it life worth living without a glimmer of hope?"