Boys' Night In (D10, LE, Butaj's Yurt)

[Asako Hirase]

"No, it is perfectly fine. It's just that not all feel that way." He thought of how to explain and decided maybe he didn't need to. "Just as some have a taste for kumis and some do not, or for spicy food or not, or a preference for cats versus dogs. We are all different, all as the Fortunes made us. It isn't wrong; it is simply different."

[Moto Butaj]

"Hum." Butaj takes a long swig, speaking of. "Butaj is just thinking how it will be. He has never been married, obviously, or never has been in a love bond. If we are betrothed tomorrow, Yuki and Butaj, then it will be the best moment in the life Butaj has known. But when Hirase says about battles, being away, other men and women, Butaj wonders if it is okay to be jealous then. When this expectation changes from something good and cherished into something bad and heartless." He sighs. "Butaj talked with Yuki about future assignments, and she doesn't know. She may well be garrisoned, like your wife, and Butaj will remain with the family that doesn't know him. What then?"

[Asako Hirase]

"I can guarantee you nothing. But, I can tell you that when I was first wed, the Clan went out of it's way to ensure that we were together until Ichiro was conceived. It could be the same with you. Remember, your match is different in the eyes of the Clan, not only because of love but because of politics. You, and the tie you bring to the Phoenix, would be valuable. Much more so than Miyako or I were in our match, in-Clan as it was. You have some leeway there. Besides...you are both warriors. If anything, you can be posted together for that and leave the children to be raised by servants. That is also common in the East."

[Moto Butaj]

"Guuuah." Butaj emits something like that, trying to wash away irksome thoughts. "It's going to be alright. Everything will be fine. Butaj and Yuki will be together, happy, and in no need for lovers and such, just loving each other and making as many or as few babies as they want. And when difficulties will happen, they will overcome it together. It's going to be like this. Yes."

[Asako Hirase]

It was good that Butaj had the skin; it left Hirase's hands free to flutter through the ritual benedictions common to someone who was desperately hoping that something just spoken would speed to the Heavens to be acted upon post-haste.

"And when it does, I will...I don't know, hold your horse's rein ready in the wings for the abduction? Make sure Yuki goes to the right field at the right time?" Laughter bubbled up. "I haven't the slightest clue how to be a proper aide in a Moto traditional kidnapping."

[Moto Butaj]

"Help with secrecy of departure and distract the pursuers so that no-one knows where we go." Butaj grins dreamily, suddenly in much better mood and caught up in the vision that tomorrow at this hour he'll be fondling and kissing his beautiful betrothed under the stars. He recalls the realistic dream - or was it vision? - he had last night and just can't help snort excitedly at the premonition. Most of his day has been like this, full of Yuki-thoughts.

[Asako Hirase]

"I can do distraction...."

He considered it...in theory, the only ones to distract, who had any right to protest, not that they would, were other Pheonix. Kaizen would leave of just because he was asked; he was a good man that way. And the Isawa?

"As it happens, I'm a professional at changing the focus of our shugenja. Leave that with me."

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj pats Hirase on the arm, grinning widely "Hirase is the best flanker! If he was a warrior and a rider, Butaj would like to have Hirase at his left."

[Asako Hirase]

Hirase grinned unabashedly. "And as I am not, once you have time to learn our dueling, I would trust you as my yojimbo. That's the best praise a courtier can give a bushi."

[Moto Butaj]

"Butaj has already started. He defeated Yuki and tied with Misa in this iaijutsu." Butaj says casually. "So Butaj is on track."

[Asako Hirase]

This was shocking, if the suddenly wide eyes Hirase turned Butaj's way were any indication.

"You...you beat Yuki?" He hadn't seen her duel, thank the Heavens, but on the travel here he'd seen her practice. "You may well have just found your secret gift. That's...glorious." Slowly bu surely, sheer glee was replacing the look of surprise. "Yes...you should keep up the practice. That talent would look very well for you, and the Unicorn, in the future."

[Moto Butaj]

"Well, it was late, just a spar, and she was distracted by Butaj's manliness, so Butaj wouldn't make much of it. We'll be sparring more, Butaj thinks she's better." He smirks. "But yes, Butaj will practice. Mostly because of what he saw on the hill. He doesn't want his honesty ever be put into question just because someone is better trained in fast drawing." Butaj looks at him with a big, slightly confused smile.

[Asako Hirase]

To avoid time paradoxes, Hirase doesn't ask about 'the hill'.

"It goes back to the beginning. Dueling decided our first Emperor; it decided the longest enmity in the Empire when the first Emerald Champion was chosen; it set two Families on different but equally grueling paths to master the blade. Whatever the actual physical act might be, in the eyes of every Rokugani of honor, it is simply giving the Heavens a path to show what is best. It can be used poorly...there are many in the Crane, for example, who become little more than honorable assassins with it. But if a man is oppressed by enemies of higher station, sometimes it is the only path to show their intentions were honorable."

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj nods. "But did the Kami not wrestle for who would be the Emperor? This is how the Unicorn have been doing it. Butaj still thinks drawing blood is bad for peaceful resolution. And now that Butaj hears about Crane assassins, it's even worse."

[Asako Hirase]

"No, they dueled."

So he had always been taught; so it was recorded in official history, whatever the truth might have been.

"I agree about the blood-letting, but there is also this to say about it; if a single injury can prevent a war, then it is by far the preferable option, neh?"