Dark Edge Village

Shinjo Akil was slow as he made his way towards Fukawa's yurt. The previous day's events had him thinking, and in some ways he perhaps realized he was going against his feelings. But feelings and the correct action are not always compatible things, and it is with that in mind that he was not standing outside her yurt.

He cleared his voice with only some hesitation. "Doji-san?" His tone was clear, though nervousness certainly abided. A folded fan was held hesitantly in his hand.

It was Shinjo Akil at her yurt. In politely society, she could have pretended to be out, but in Unicorn society, she wasn't sure she trusted him not to pop his head in just to be sure. Mustering up her resolve, she walked up to the door and opened it.

A polite bow followed.

"Shinjo-san, good morning." she said, "Have you had rice today?"

He still hated that greeting. He bowed politely to her, taking a small breath. "I have, Doji-san, and hope you also are so blessed. I hope the past few days have treated you well?"

There was perhaps a small bit of hestitation, but she nodded.

"Hai, I have. I feel I did well in the poetry competition. Perhaps I could have pushed myself a little harder in the presentation, but truly, judging someone on their skill at war fans in a poetry competition in a novel experience for me." she replied. "And yourself?"

He considered his answer carefully, looking away for a moment before answering. "That is a... complicated question to answer. I have been trying to be as fair as I can, and I think instead I have only confused issues, for myself as much as for others." He frowned at his own statement.

Fukawa frowned at that as well.

"Why don't you come inside to discuss this?" she offered. "We can leave the door open to be proper, but I feel like this is not a conversation to be had in a doorway."

He considered her for a second... then nodded. "As you will, Doji-san."

She let him in, and leaving the door open, took up seiza near the center of the Yurt.

She gestured for him to take a space opposite her.

She decided to be more direct than usual, because Unicorn.


"What is troubling you, Akil-san?" she asked.

He sat across from her, also in seiza. He eyed the fan for a long moment before looking to her. "I have told you that I like you a lot, as I remember. That has not changed. There is a second though, Fukawa-san, that I also like..." His eyes looked down to the fan before he continued. "She... no, Matsu Kogo knows that I favor both of you, and has given me until tomorrow to decide which of the two of you I would prefer to marry." He took a breath, waiting for her to respond.

Matsu Kogo? Matsu Kogo?!? That horse of a samurai-ko?!? Of course he wants to marry a horse. raged Fukawa internally, as she remained calm externally.

Being weighed equally in his heart with some scruffy lioness was a heavy insult to the Crane, but not so heavy as weighing less would.


"I....see." she said, glancing down at the fan he held. "Have you only come to inform me of this, or is there something you are seeking from me?"


He's just confused about his love for his old life and new, please Kakita, please help him see. she silently asked the Heavens.

He looked down again. Every word was clearly being considered carefully. "I..." his eyes closed. "find myself in conflict. My heart pushes in both directions at once. And with that being the case, I have to choose what is best for the Unicorn..."

Fukawa was used to be told how things were going to go down. Used to crying herself to sleep. And as yet another person she cared about was about to tell her how her life was going to do, she came upon a sudden realization. That she didn't have to put up with this.

"I am sorry that Benten-no-kami has burdened you thusly, Akil-san." she interrupts. "But it is not simply a matter of choosing. Ultimately, the matchmakers choose what is best for the clan, not you or Matsu-san."

"I am familiar with how the miai is intended to go," he nodded to her, looking at the fan again. "If you wish it to go strictly to the the nakodo, that is fair, but with where you stand among things it is likely you will have your own choice." He took a calm breath. "And I would wish for you to choose me."

He opened the fan, revealing a violet fan with horses charging forward. "This is my personal fan. It... doesn't have any grand heritage to it, but it at least is the fan of a hero. I am sorry I do not have better words to describe this gifting, but I would like you to have this."

Fukawa was caught off guard by the Unicorn's gesture. She had been expecting him to try returning her fan, saying something about how much better the Lion were. More tears were threatening to come to her eyes.

"I....


I thank you Shinjo-san...I...cannot accept this gift, because I want you to know that I believe that you offer this sincerely, not merely as a gesture." she says.


It was a terrible choice of refusal, but she was off her game, and she did not want him to misinterpret it.

There was a moment where he started to withdraw the fan. "Oh... o..k.." IDIOT! REFUSALS REFUSALS REFUSALS!

He took a breath, then held it out again. "Ah, but I think the violet of the fan would match your eyes much better than it would compliment my appearance. Clearly this fan is better held by you than me." Not responding to the context... but compliments!