[D8, LE, Expecting] The Trouble With Onyx

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji looks at her cup and gives a slight smirk as he retrieves another bottle from his trunk. He refills both her and his own cup. "This is Tomonaga-sama's sake. The good stuff." He finishes refilling. "I have been told I excell in understatements more than once by Takahiro." He says as he sips from his cup.

[Matsu Kogo]

She smiles. "Aha, I have had some. It is quite delicious. I thank you for sparing me a cup." She sips, savoring the sake. "He is a good conversationalist, that Yasuki-san."

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji nods. " He is a good man, through and through. Honorable intelligent and likeable. I respect him for it." He is silent for a moment as he sips. "I spoke to him earlier today in fact. About the Tsukai. I trust him in keeping it as a secret. He said he'd make inquiries into the matter although he cannot supply us more jade."

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo nearly spit takes, but hides it well. This will be around the camp in a few moments. "Ahh, that is unfortunate that he has no further jade supplies. But it makes sense. One would scarely carry large amounts around." Unless one was quite paranoid. "That matter still troubles me a great deal. The Moshi seemed too calm for one who had seen such a thing. Perhaps it comes with being a diviner, one must see strange things constantly. "

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji is silent for a moment. "I am not a good judge of character but in retrospect... I think she was angry at the unicorn. Same as I was angry at her. Not that I blame her. I was surprised about the Unicorn. I thought most of theM smarter than this." He sips again.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo pauses. "I suspect they are. It is why the knowledge was wide spread." She thinks a moment. "I suspect it is the talk of Lady Shinjo that could cause such a thing. Her loss has affected them deeply. It might cause a misstep and the Empire's enemies are those who would exploit such a thing."

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji frowns and almost growls. "The shadowlands cheat and lie and murder and kill. It is what they do best. Whatever it wanted... I will guarantee it is a trap." He takes a deep sip from his cup and refills it and Kogi's cup.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo nods, accepting the refill. "It is what they do best. Trap souls with what is best in them." She thinks for a moment. "I wonder who the other Unicorn members were, who went to the meeting."

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji frowns and shakes his head. "I do not know. But Tomonaga-sama is doing research into it as we speak. Although... " He bites his lip. "I would hope none of those... Close to us. We're there." He sips.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo's face was stern, like marble. "I hope the same."

[Kaiu Hiroji]

He sighs and sips his sake. "I will have to speak to Liu Yue tomorrow. Clear the air. We will not marry, that I know."

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo looks at him, slightly surprised. "You have changed your mind?"

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji's expression is pained. "I still love her. But as you said so wisely, I will have to look for someone who will cherish me in turn. And let's face it my standing in the miai is not good. There is no chance I can marry her. But I can still do my duty." He takes a deep sip.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo is sort of enjoying the novel experience of someone taking her advice. She says, "I find myself thinking of a quote from Akodo-no-kami. 'A wound is not the end of a true samurai. It is merely a momentary inconvenience that can be cleansed by once more entering battle.'" She looks at him, finishing the last of her sake and putting it down, face down, so that she can be done with it. "Tomorrow, we return to battle. Though it is not our chosen field, we will do so with honor."

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji nods. "Tomorrow. Yes." He finishes his own cup and stands up to now to Kogi.
"I enjoy these talks of ours Kogo-san. I hope we can make time for more of them."