The way or the day. (Day 7 Early Evening.)

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue kept her eyes on him. She refused to back down on the matter. "I did, Daisuke-dono. I thought of how it would be disingenuous and insincere of me to proclaim my love to any of the men present." She let out a soft sigh. "I did not refrain from participating in the event because I hoped to impress the judges with my song. After all, I had impressed the Otaku with my poetry."

The Shinjo smiled faintly. "One may look at it as a confession to any suitor whom seeks my love. However, I can see why you are upset." She nodded. "Hai. I presume some believe I insulted all of the men outside of my Clan by not choosing one of them. I will not say that none were worthy of my song. It is simply that the Yogo earned my favor more."

She bowed to him. "Gomennasai, Daisuke-dono."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

He did her the service of listening to her entire explanation, she likely deserved that much. Or at one time he thought she did. "I see you don't understand at all then Shinjo-san." He murmured at last with a sigh, taking another small sip of the bottle.

"A man can make a life with a woman that does not love him, that may not even wish to share his bed, that is married because her duty forces her to do so. Should you confess that to the man you wed, I could accept that, even respect that, but what you did is different."

He leaned back looking at the sky. "What you did is different, if you thought no man held your heart like the Yogo you had the choice to stay silent, you chose not to. You say many men here might take what you did as an insult? I'll agree with that. But what you didn't take into account is that the entire empire is watching. The entire empire now believes you would rather a woman in your bed then your rightful husband, the entire empire believes you only married for duty, the entire empire believes that your husband will never have your heart."

He looked at her, his face a mask as he added on one more sentence. "In my belief you've saddled him with a life time of shame, and you haven't even married him yet."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Sou desu ka." Yue turned away from him and looked to the pond. She stayed silent as she looked to the waters. Eventually she let out a small chuckle. "I wish I brought some kumis with me." She looked back to him with a faint smile on her face. "I implore you to not allow my own actions to mar your perceptions of my Clan."

Her eyes went back to the water. "What would you suggest for me to do, Daisuke-dono?"

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"I'd consider it, if it were you alone Shinjo-san." He took a small sip from the bottle. "But the princess of the Otaku followed your lead as well, and her action hold even more weight then your own."

"I admit I've been considering leaving the miai altogether, duty my duty to my clans means more to me then my own feelings. so i shall stay.." He paused a moment. "And my apologies shinjo-san, I didn't bring any Kumis."

As she asked what to do he couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't think there is anything you can do Shinjo-san, you could sing a love song to every man here and it wouldn't make a bit of difference. You could always ask one of those Ide though, they might know."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"I cannot speak on her behalf. It is not my place," Yue said in regards to Kitakuhime.

She nodded. "Duty is important. I hope you will be matched with a wife whom you feel comfortable with." She shrugged. "It was my responsibility to bring a drink for myself."

The Shinjo let out a sigh. "Hai. I may approach one of the Ide and ask for their advice." She shook her head. "My father will be angry when he hears the news."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"Time will tell on that account." It certainly seemed that most of the Unicorn women preferred the company of other women. Or well it could be as few as half, there had been enough rumors to at least prove that.

"I'll play host then." He muttered offering her the bottle of shochu, it appeared he didn't have any cups to serve with.

If her father waa anything like his father, he would be furious, he couldn't comment though as he didn't know the man. "It would be a wise idea Shinjo-san."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue pulled out her sake cup, something she had gotten into the habit of carrying with her. However, she hesitated to extend it to him. "You do not need to serve me if you do not wish to do so, Daisuke-dono. I know you are upset with me."

She let out a sigh. "My father is a representative of the Shinjo." She let that context fill in the rest of the disappointment.

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"One does not let their personal feelings get in the way of their duties as a host." He replied simply as he waited for her to pass the cup in his direction so he could fill it.

At her further comment he nodded. "I recall Shinjo-san, you mentioned him at our first meeting."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

She looked around. "Are you a host, Daisuke-dono? I recall that the Unicorn are hosting this miai." In a way, this was also a game of refusals. But she truly did not want to force him to give her shochu.

Yue blinked and then nodded. "Hai. I remember telling you about him now. I believe he would give me the same advice as you. He could tell me how to correct my faults but I believe he would be too disappointed." She shrugged. "I think he would want the Ide to teach me more on proper etiquette entirely."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"Well, for the moment at least. I said I'd play host as he talk here." It had only been a minute or so ago, had she forgot? Was he not the only drunk one here? He still held out the bottle waiting for her to offer her cup. Maybe he should just try and pour it directly in her mouth?

"That will probably be part of it.' He agreed with a nod. "Especially if you are to marry out. I'm no expert on these things though."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue nodded and finally relented. She held out her cup to the man. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Daisuke-dono."

She thought on it. "I believe I am likely to be married out of the Unicorn," she mused, "The notice board lists many men above me." A small laugh came out of her. "I suppose there is a reason why that is so."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

He deftly filled her cup, the practiced motion an easy one for him even after a few cups. "Aye, that's most likely how it will go," He agreed lifting the bottle to his lips to take a sip before placing it back on the ground between them.

"I believe my own future is a bit more uncertain, I don't believe I had won the attention of any of the women of higher standing here, and my own standing will not allow me to choose. So it all depends upon what the Ide have in store after this miai has ended."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

The Shinjo drank it too and blinked when it seared down her throat. She did not spit it out but she looked at him confused. "This is harsher than sake," was the way she put it.

She tilted her head. "Daisuke-dono, Otaku Imane sang you a song. Did you miss it?"

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"It's what we scout's drink out in the fields." He said in way of explanation. "It's a crab blend called Hidsa's Hammer, puts a little warmth in you on the nights you can't have a fire"

The next revelation caused his to stop and blink a few times, perhaps he had heard that wrong? "I left after the Otaku princess sang her song." He admitted after a moment. "You're saying Otaku Imane-sama sand me a song though? Why would she do that?"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"Sou desu ka." Yue shrugged. "I suppose I prefer my drinks tasty like kumis," she said with a small grin.

She looked at him. "I do not know. You may ask her yourself," she said gently, almost teasing.