Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:26:23 GMT -5
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
|
Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:26:55 GMT -5
She had a dream. With Hida Kimo. Though the details and sense were erased from her mind when she woke up, the lingering sense of nostalgia and loss remained with Mitsouko along the day.
It wasn't about love, but maybe about the certainty of a steady future she carried within her for many years of her life...before everything turn upside down.
Some of those questions were undoubtedly out of her hands. And some of them...like the child in her womb... something to what she should carefully choose the better way. Mitsouko had easier options at hand, common option to women in her situation, but the uncertainty of the future made this feeling of continuity and preservation to grow strong into the Kakita daimyo's core. She decided for life. She decided for hope. Maybe it was the last chance of not let her lineage to fade into oblivion; she was the last of them.
Sleepless nights and migraine days, trying to figure what to do, and then the seed of an idea started to bloom. Dangerous and shameful in its birth, refuted by her several times... though, it soon proved to be the only way she could maintain her family dignity, still perform her duties and raise her child by her own tutelage.
Though, there was still the issue in whom exactly to trust. And…To lie or not?
Of course, the first option would be Jiro, but first, he was in love by someone else and it would make him lose his hopes to marry the Utaku forever. And secondly...it was just iiirgh kind of almost incestuous. The simple idea of it was...was unbearable.
Then, one face started to insidiously appear amongst the few options. And it was the most unlikely of her choices. He was arrogant, womanizer, immature, and a bad drinker, just to begin with... and he was...something else that sometimes disturbed her judgment about him. Though, for the positive sides, he was loyal to the clan and absolutely not a person who could dare to judge her faux pas. Even though... he was unpredictable.
And that's why inadvertently Kakita Battou was invited for a dinner by his daimyo.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Feb 7, 2012 7:31:41 GMT -5
Having swore an oath not to appear before her again until he had found news of Shinoburo's whereabouts, Battou was still feverishly pouring over every resource that he had to try and find the man. It struck him by complete surprise, given the nature of what had happened before that Mitsouko would call him back, let alone call him back to dinner. But, this was one of the conditions of the oath he had set out; and so there he found himself, in the finest of his robes, in front of her door.
A quick nudge for one of the servants to tell her that he was here, he waited out in the hall until they slid back the screens for him to enter. He looked across the room to where she was and smiled. He bowed deeply, almost reverently to his daimyo.
"Greetings, Mitsouko-sama. I have come as you requested. Though I do have to admit, I did not expect to be called back so soon."
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:33:47 GMT -5
Mitsouko analyzed his figure, nodding in reply to his bow.
Welcome Battou-san.
She invited him to the same room years ago they had their private party for three. This time though the shogi walls were closed, due the winter, providing a cozy and dim lit ambience.
Sorry if it made you halt your progressing in the investigation I’ve asked you… But please relax, it’s not about that. I can wait a report of yours in the due moment. How your family is going?
A sweet and calm smile, a casual tone, then she sat in one of the pillows, making a contrast of peacock blue informal kimono against the pastel tones of the picture in the shogi.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Feb 7, 2012 7:35:42 GMT -5
He lifted and tilted his head to look at her. The last meeting they had been alone for had ended in his rather abrupt and cold dismissal from her chambers. He remembered it very clearly. And now she was talking as if nothing had happened... Clearly this was one of the most capricious women that he had ever met.
"Ah, my family is doing well..."
He moved over to where she was sitting and took a cushion that was directly opposite her so that they would face each other; so that he could watch her for any sign of how this meeting was going to go. He removed the katana from his hip and sat it behind him. He looked across at her. Still sort of shocked, and trying to grasp the situation, for the time being he would remain aloof.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:38:27 GMT -5
After stating he was drunken and thus his behavior was to be forgotten, she really waited him to, at least, pretend doing the same. Though noticing his slight discomfort, well concealed moments after, just made Mitsouko remember the unfortunate sequence of events in the winter court. She cannot avoid a frown of pain about everything what happened.
She put the palms of her hands over her thighs, keeping the smile, thinking if would be worth of a whole ceremonial around it, or if she could just ask. But somehow she must start someway. After a snap of her fingers a servant brought the tea and some snack food, to precede the meal. After served, and the servant dismissed, Mitsouko casually asked:
"Are you engaged in any omiai, Battou-san? Did either you or your family choose a bride for you?"
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Feb 7, 2012 7:39:46 GMT -5
Without being able to constrain his reaction at all, his head tilted and he raised an eyebrow at this statement. What is going on, he thought. She is acting so differently...
"No, Mitsouko-sama. The family has never given me leave to find a match for myself, nor thought to arrange any such things for me. I've been left to my own devices, as it were."
He happily drank some of the tea that was brought, it helped to calm his nerves and he popped a couple of the snacks into his mouth. He shifted on the cushion at the uncomfortable line of questioning.
"Should I be...? Has the daimyo decided that I should be... put to use in this way?"
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:43:14 GMT -5
Though Mitsouko wasn’t the kind of people who delights with other’s panic, her eyes gleamed at his discomfort, as she knew it was exactly what he thought it was but still… not exactly that. So she ignored the question sipping her tea. Now, her second question was quite equally important:
"But…Do you have someone in mind?"
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Feb 7, 2012 7:43:29 GMT -5
He stared across at her. Still trying to discern her intent. She was a wall for all that he could read into her. He popped another of the snack bites into his mouth and chewed vigorously, trying to buy some time for his response.
"Marriage is something I have never considered seriously, Mitsouko-sama."
That was easily the most neutral response he could give. He could not fathom why she was asking him this. Mitsouko had never been particularly easy for him to read; and this was following those exact same standards. More tea found it's way into his mouth and he emptied the glass entirely.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:45:35 GMT -5
"So, if you don’t have neither your heart nor the honor of your family engaged to any woman at the moment, yes, I have plans for you in this matter." She said seriously. In fact, her entire mood changed, a slight frown of resolve in her face. She served Battou of more tea.
"How do you feel thinking you can change your status to married man… kind of unexpectedly?"
She tried to light up her previous words with a coquettish tone, this time.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Feb 7, 2012 7:45:56 GMT -5
"Uuuuhh..."
Now Battou's mind was racing. She WAS going to marry him off to someone, and it would be quick and he wouldn't have any time to react to it or plan anything out. Of course it would be that way. She wanted to be rid of him for all that he had done.
"I... I.... Well, what do you have in mind, Mitsouko-sama? I must confess that I am taken aback by the sudden nature of what you are saying."
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:47:40 GMT -5
She sighed. Her last arguing with Sojiro, then her feelings for Shodai...
She really knew how she was hurt for the lack of trust people she believed in with all her heart… And she wasn’t willing to make what would be a long term relationship between her and her future husband start with lies or unsaid things. Though it was very difficult to her.
Battou was someone she met and knew in her reckless life as young duelist, with lots of plans that never happened. She was changed and he, of course, was changed as well. She didn’t really know him.
"Battou-san, you come from an excellent family among the Kakita. Your talent, accomplishment and disciplined determination earned you one of the most envied positions in our clan, as Guardian of Metal. A Kakita Blade it’s the most desired blade in the Empire… and you retain the technique and expertise. You are very important to Kakita family. Thus, you must marry into the family. Do you understand my decision til this point?"
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Post by Zeure on Feb 7, 2012 7:47:52 GMT -5
He stared hard at her; the next few seconds of their meeting would mean a great deal to him. He entered a sort of hyper-awareness that some duelist's got from time to time. He noticed everything about her and the room, even the food. She was in a different set of clothes than was normal for her. Her hair was done up, which was different. Her face had make-up on it, which she normally only wore in sparse amounts. She had dolled herself up for some reason. Her house was virtually empty except for a few servants that had been moving the food in and as soon as they were done with it, she had dismissed them. She had purposefully made sure that they were alone. Why had she done all this...?
"I thank you for all your kind words, Daimyo. And yes, I understand what you are saying to me so far. Please continue."
The next few seconds, he thought again, they will be very important indeed to him.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 7, 2012 7:49:10 GMT -5
"I should let the nakado I choose to tell it your parents first, but I’m afraid I am an untraditional person and have some things to say I prefer to do in person…" her short and unpolished nails scratched the silk over her thighs for a second, while the rest of her was unmoved.
"I have plans to make you my husband, Battou-san."
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Zeure
Crane Clan
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Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Feb 7, 2012 7:49:48 GMT -5
His head tilted ever so slightly at the notion and a wide smile that showed all his upper teeth was displayed. One of his eyebrows raised along with the smile.
"Just like that, huh?"
He wanted to laugh, but he wouldn't, it would be taken the wrong way, not like how he meant it.
"After all this time I've spent pursuing you, it's just like that? Kami, I wouldn't have tried so hard if I'd have known. You have no idea the things I've done to try and make myself the man I thought you'd want."
He tilted his head back with his mouth open in that same smile, all manner of thoughts were rushing through his head.
"Of course my family will accept any offer the Nakado makes. All they really know of you is that you are a strong warrior, and the daimyo of the family. Father will know it would make me happy. He is the only one that I have ever told of my desire for you, which he told me to put firmly out of my head. But I've never, not even for a moment, gave up on it."
He did laugh, but it was genuine, it was triumphant.
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