A Presentation to Otomo Takajima

[Kakita Hitoshi]

It was evening in the halls of Kyuden Otomo and Kakita Hitoshi was wearing his finest kimono. Two attendants fussed around him making sure that every detail looked absolutely perfect whilst the warrior stared straight ahead, feeling slightly uncomfortable. Whilst he appreciated the niceties of a civilised life, being dressed to meet members of the kuge class made him feel a little out of his depth.

Opposite him, Doji Naetaru stood and watched approvingly. They were standing the chambers of Otomo Takajima, a high ranking Otomo courtier, and Hitoshi was about to be presented to him as a prospective match for his daughter, Otomo Kimanai. As the attendants made their final touches and retired, Hitoshi stepped forward to join the Doji daimyo and muttered "Shall we get this over with or are we waiting for anyone else to join us?"

[Doji Naetaru]

Doji Naetaru retained his calm stance, looking at the front, waiting for the door to open.

"We shall wait, Otomo Takajima-sama will be joining us shortly." he said, by suppressing a sigh.

In the following moments the doors slid open and Takajima's attendants scurried in the room bowing to both Cranes. They quickly began arranging the room for the bride and her father to enter.
Lining up straw mats, arranging the fine cherry wood table, bringing in the additional utensils, settling the fragrant water basin in the center of the room.
By that moment Naetaru found a small time pocket to speak with Hitoshi.

"Listen Hitoshi-san." looking him in the eyes.
"I would never be able to feel what a samurai wouldn't rightfully display, but don't you fathom that I cannot understand." his face quite as serious.
"There is the happenstance when duty comes before personal desire and much more after the Fortunes have showered one with their blessings." he seemed condescending.
"I am not a proper man to tutor you Hitoshi, for you're a child of the Kakita and thus you're an embodiment to the traditional values that we have been tasked to preserve."
"As a Doji cousin I only wish to see you settled. After all of this, settled and safeguarded."

And with that, Naetaru lifted the burden of his guilt off his soul.He kept Mikado's letter for Hitoshi under the drapes of his kimono though. He felt that pang of guilt once more. His sister had entrusted him with a letter with her parting words meant for Hitoshi's eyes.
Naetaru could unsettle his feelings once more...for the sake of his family and the for the Crane.

[Kakita Hitoshi]

Hitoshi felt a flash of anger spark within him at the daimyo's condescending tone but he kept his face impassive, well aware of the dangerous nature of their surroundings.

"I am well aware of my duty Naetaru-sama, and I thank you for your concern."

The moment of time ended and Otomo Takajima swept into the room. He was a large man in all dimensions and wore a broad smile on his face. Behind him came the much slighter figure of a young woman; both were perfectly attired.

"Welcome, Naetaru-san. It is a long time since we have seen you in the halls of Kyuden Otomo. I trust that you have been made comfortable?"

Whilst Naetaru and Takajima were making the appropriate formal introductions, Hitoshi looked up from where he knelt, sneaking a glance at Kimanai. Whilst he was upset about the situation with Mikado he still felt a sense of curiosity about the girl in front of him. If she was to end up as his wife, what was she like?

Like him she knelt in seiza with her eyes lowered, awaiting her father's commands. She looked about 17 or 18 and whilst she didn't possess the ethereal beauty of Naetaru's sister, she was by no means plain. As her father called for tea to be served, she looked up and the two of them caught each other's gaze. Her eyes were bright, and Hitoshi had the distinct impression that she was assessing him.

Intelligent, then he thought. That is a welcome surprise.