D4EM - Red Dawn

[Shimizu Ryori]

"The last great shugenja of the tribe was Kitsu-domo who was trapped with Akodo-kami and many civilians by the forces of Akodo's brother during the great war. It is said Kitsu used his powers to appear to be Akodo and draw the forces away in exchange for Akodo's pledge to protect his people."

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Saksaha nods. "This story of Kitsu I do remember. He married Akodo-no-kami's daughter, I think? But this reminds me. I do not mean to offend, but the Shimizu name is not one I remember from the old tales..." She trails off curiously. "Your family's must be a new tale, one that happened after Shinjo rode out of this country, is this right?

[Shimizu Ryori]

"Hai, Akodo Shimizu was, in fact is, a great magistrate and general, of incredible perception and keen insight. When he was in the capital, shortly before I was born, the Emperor was preparing for marriage, but his fiance was not true, she was planning to kill the emperor as she worked as an agent of Hantei's brother. Shimizu-domo discoveted this plot and revealed her true nature before the wedding. Hantei decreed him a hero and created a new family of the lion in his name. "

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"Oh. My." No wonder Shinjo-no-Kami told us to come back. Things really have been in a mess here. "That is a very great deed. Then it must be your parents joined this family from another Lion tribe, Shimizu-san?"

[Shimizu Ryori]

He nods "My mother was an Ikoma, my father a Matsu, I am one of the first to be born under the Shimizu name"

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"I think that must be quite a thing," Saksaha says with a raised eyebrow. "You have something heavy to uphold. It is much responsibility, though also a great honor."

[Shimizu Ryori]

"It is, I have been facing such much of my life, I wonder just what example I am showing here, as your contests have proved quite formidable"

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"The contests are an amusement," Saksaha says with the equanimity of a person who will never be anywhere within reach of the top of the lists. "If you act with honor and friendship, the Unicorn will not turn you away. Only," she adds a bit wistfully, "it would not be so bad to know one could choose to marry who one wished."

[Shimizu Ryori]

"And you, if you had your preference, what kind of samurai would you choose Iuchi-san?"

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Saksaha shrugs. "Someone I can get on with. Clever, but not boring. I do not think to be more particular, unless Heaven puts more choice into my hands," she says, a little more lightly than she probably really feels.

[Shimizu Ryori]

"I think being able to talk to the other person and not wanting to kill them is much more important then anything else. Not that I actually want to kill anyone, but I have seen many unhappy matches in my clan. " he shrugs "you go where duty takes you and sometimes that isnt easy. But if both parties act with honor, that is common ground, and my mom always says if you have one item of common ground you can build a castle on it if you need to. It is why I volunteered when they were sending young samurai to this miai, I assumed my affinity for the children of Chikishudo could be built on"

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"I can talk to most people and do not want to kill them. Maybe everyone." Saksaha raises her eyebrows a bit. "Even I am more ambitious for my marriage than this."

[Shimizu Ryori]

"Matsu hold long grudges, many in my clan are still angry at the Crane for something that happened seven centuries ago in this very spot. It leads to interesting times with political marriages to other clans arranged by your lords."

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"Maybe I should be glad my people have been away too long for this kind of grudge to keep hot," she says with a shrug.

[Shimizu Ryori]

"I think it is good to have fresh perspectives every now and then yes, in many ways the Unicorn have been blessed"