Her earlier meeting done, Ishiyo had hurried to the gardens. As fast as she might while wearing a formal kimono. She sighed with relief at arriving first, taking the time to smooth out her kimono and relax. Then the worry began to sit in...what if he would not come.

She still wore her blue kimono, its embroidered cranes playing among their embroidered trees and flowers.

"Fortunes. Both sides of the coin. Fortunes." Ryuu's eyes, intense and icy blue, went wide as he approached. His bootheels clicked ahajnstthe pavement of the path. He was dressed in his dress uniform still, yet he felt severely underdressed. He stepped just to the edge of impropriety, wishing to step even closer. His eyes focused on her features, as if committing every detail to memory.

"You look stunning, Daidoji-san."

Ishiyo turned to look at Ryuu, smiling gently, "Daigotsu-san. I am happy you came." She bowed properly and then her smile grew sad, "You-eh room mate was a nice kid. I do not know how well you knew him but..."

She started to take a step forward, close the distance but the chasm of proper conduct was wider then any step she could make. "And I am sorry foh ouh last meeting...I meant my words that night, but...I wish I had not spoken them. They must have been barbs driven into you-eh heart yesterday morning." The edge of her eyes sparkled a little, small tears forming.

"He was here due to deception by a rival. He did not know what was happening. Kuni-san was a good, and honorable samurai. It is a tragedy that he was lost so young into his career." He genuinely looked sad, shaking his head.

"Do not worry. I was arrogant, and was laid low by my pride. A lesson that needed to be learned. I was angry... at myself. I wanted to go out and not disappoint you. But... we must move forward." Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, he pursed his lips into a hard line. "I was pleased enough with my performance today. Hopefully... it was enough to impress." Ryuu's voice softened, and he fought every instinct to wipe her tears from the corners of her eyes.

Ishiyo's gentle smile returned, "You did not disappoint me Daigotsu-san." She raised a hand toward him but pulled back and placed a closed fist against her chest. She stood in silence for a moment, "And yes we must look to the future and the present."

"You-eh performance today was good," Despite herself she managed to put a little mischievousness into her expression and voice, "Were you thinking of someone other then the judges when they asked you to show you-eh skills as a bodyguard?"

"Perhaps I wanted to showcase why I make a good doshin, Daidoji-san. And besides, would a potential spouse not want to see that if it came to it, their new husband could defend them from all threats." His eyes seemed to catch the light, his smile matching her mischief.

"Was it not the same way that Kakita impressed the Lady Doji?" He watched her again, almost seeing a mirror of his mother in her. Elegance, grace, and beauty. "I am no Kakita. But maybe I can be a scoundrel as he was."

"Lord Kakita completed three supposedly impossible tasks." Ishiyo smiled now, "To bring the dead to life, to measure the width of the world, and show Lady Doji a vision of absolute beauty."

She raised her hand to her face, covering her mouth a sleeve. "Are you proposing to do such foh me?"

"You would be worth attempting the impossible for." Ryuu stood straighter, at a military attention. His smile never disappeared, though he moved to her side, never looking away from her.

"What would you ask of me, if I recall, it was Lady Doji set the terms?"

"Lady Doji did not wish to marry Lord Kakita when they met." Ishiyo blushed, "I...am not so sure I feel the same as she did when heh challenges were issued."

She looked down at the ground, "Shall we take a little walk? I do not think we are so fah from where we first spoke."

He turned bright red. "Yes. Let us walk." Ryuu nodded, escorting her. Yet even as his cheeks were flushed, his smile remained. "I believe you are right. Though I am sure there is more of the garden to explore."

"I am sure there is..." Ishiyo kept close, as close as was allowed. "But best to start at the familiah." Her blush was still present. "And things have changed these last few days no? Maybe it will look different now that we are more accustomed to the city." She glanced to him.

"To help us keep our bearings. That is a sound idea." He was pleased, walking beside her, even as he wished to walk closer. He let his hands rest behind his back, clasped. His head tilted slightly to catch her glance, his contentment plain on his features.

"I imagine things will change even more by the end of this."

"I just hope foh the betteh," She says a little melancholic. Her eyes wandered up to the sky, "It is still beautiful out here, even without ouh glasses."

"It all has this...uniqueness to it, so different from the gardens of Miyabi." Ishiyo turned to smile at Ryuu, "What do you think of this planet? I mean despite its dangers...it is very lovely."

"It may be up to us to make it better for ourselves." Optimism showed in his words, then a smile. Thinking on the planet, what he has seen so far.

"With the dangers... it reminds me of home. The farms, the wilds. The people I have seen, of the same quality as on Shiragiku. One where you always have to be aware, but charming." Ryuu smiled to Ishiyo. "So I agree with you. It is lovely. And likely will be remembered as such, for the memories made here."

"I do not believe the Governeh wishes it to remain so," Her blue eyes stayed fixed on his, "Come what may though...I think there will be at least one reason I remembeh the planet beyond its natural beauty." She closed her eyes and turned away from the Spider, a pleased and mischievous smile on her face.

"Changes come, as they always do." Ryuu nodded about her comments on the governor. And then those words. The Doshin felt something. The intention, maybe it was just being back in the garden with her. There was something in the way her eyes closed, or how she turned away.

Courage was damned, as he took one step closer, "Likewise, Daidoji-san. It would be impossible to think back to this place, and not remember..." he trailed off, the words lost, as he took a half step back, remembering himself.

Ishiyo looked at him over her shoulder, her smile was wistful and her voice low meant for only him, "I almost...went beyond the grounds of propriety at the pool. At part of me wishes I had, but we are who we are." She turns back to look at the garden.

"Nothing is eveh simple is it?"

"If it were simple, it would not be worth it." He spoke, mirroring her tone, purpose and drive coursing through his words. He blinked, and nodded. "I would be lying if I said I did not wish the same." He paused, then sighed.

"I... had wished to do the same, after the arcade."

Ishiyo dipped her bed, "I know...it is why I rushed off when we got to the inn before ouh emotions got the betteh of eitheh of us." She turned to look at him, tears had finally formed enough to run down her cheeks, "It is what it is."

He was struck by her tears. To see such emotion, was rare. Cherished, and special. He wanted to comfort her, to embrace her. His left hand trembled, the struggle against just reaching for her apparent.

"Ishiyo-san..." he whispered, quarter step forward. Using his frame to allow her to hide from anyone who walked up the path, giving her the privacy, the intimacy of such display demanding.

"I do not wish to jeopardize your Honor. But it is... difficult to hold back what the heart wants. Expectation is to do our duty, but... I never expected this. I do not retreat from it, however things pass."