Tsugiharu raised an eyebrow at that.

"Really? I'm deeply curious what Daigotsu-sama told you about me, Asahina-sama." he said.

He really was curious. Was the man actually competent in this sort of affair, or was he an unrepentant boob?

"Mmm, hardly much that you haven't told me yourself. That you were a doctor, that you come from a strong line of shugenja of humble means... all background things. And that's my point. Much better to talk and dig past the basic facts."

That seemed at least.....serviceable.

"A fair point, Asahina-sama. I am happy to answer whatever you would think to ask, assuming you are willing to give consideration to my questions about you in return." he conceded.

"Oh, you've already been quite open without my having to ask a single thing," she said with a smile. "I've never had anything hidden either, so if there's anything I haven't said, ask away Kuchiki-san."

Point for the Crane. She was at least observant.


"Hmm, I could ask you what is going to be in fashion next season." he offered. It was, at least, something he hadn't asked and something she should be able to answer.

Her head tilted a bit. "Hmm... something I could possibly answer, with the caveat that it's more complicated than a simple sentence... however; would it truly affect your own choices, or even really matter? You strike m,e as the sort that wears what he wears out of habit and ease rather than trying to keep up with any sort of ethereal 'trend'."

Tsugiharu smiled a bit.

"All knowledge is power, Asahina-sama." he said. It was, perhaps, his guiding principle.

"Will your advice have me rushing an order for the bleeding edge fashions? Most likely not. But does this mean the knowledge has no value? Not in my opinion."

She shrugged softly. "Fair enough, those as I said, the answer isn't simple. I wouldn't bore you with the long version. Needless to say, fashion depends quite a lot on where you are, what you are doing, who you are with, and what message you are trying to send. What would be appropriate fashion for a Spider court with an air of polite caution would be entirely different than what is fashionable to wear to a play on Rokugan itself."

"With politics how they are right now, I can see a trend in fashion of more bold colors interweaving other clan's trends. A Crane will always be likely to wear powder blue as a Scorpion is to wear crimson, but when tensions are high with interclan politics, many courtiers look to show support for allies with their colors instead, or their fashion choices with their own clan's colors. It is a trendy way of showing thoughtfulness and solidarity."

Tsugiharu shook his head at that.

"So hasty, Asahina-sama. Do people normally find long conversations with you boring? If so, I would argue the fault lay in them, not you." he offered.

That wry smile of hers returned. "I try to keep my conversations short as a rule, so that none might have opportunity to tire of them in the first place. Or, I should say instead, I try to be succinct. Perhaps there is a bit of haste to it in the fact that I always keep looking to get to as much as I can in as little a time as possible, but I like to think of it more as being utilitarian with my time."

Tsugiharu chuckled a bit at that.

"Then I am indeed honored, Asahina-sama, that you've chosen to spend so much time with me. After all, I'm sure a woman of your distinction could pick several people in the miai who would drop everything to have lunch with you." he offered.

That brought out a quiet chuckle and a smile. "Perhaps, though you are the one that offered. It has been a nice meal as well. I confess that I must not the best of lunch guests, since I invited you to such a pricey place. Kukichi-san seems the sort that would be most comfortable at a nice food stand on his break between patients."

Tsugiharu shook his head.

"So quick to judge yet again, Asahina-sama. I think that it's important to try new things. If you only ever eat at food stalls, or only ever eat at the most expensive of restaurants, you have an inherently limited view of the world. You really don't know what you're missing if you don't try."

He smiled a bit.

"Honestly, though, the meal itself is irrelevant. One could feast on instant ramen as if it were made by the finest chef if they were to share it with as fine as company as yourself, Asahina-sama."

"Oh, I don't mind being proven wrong, not at all," she said over her cup of tea. "Such a flatterer as always Kuchiki-san. I've had plenty of both restaurant and foodstand food in my life, so perhaps if we do this again we can try the mall, hai?"

"It's only flattery if it's not true, Asahina-sama." he said with a small smile.

He nodded.

"But hai, a trip to the mall would be fun I think. It helps to see potential partners in a variety of environments, yes?"

"Variety is rarely a bad thing indeed.

Finishing her tea, it seemed she'd finished her light meal as well. "I doubt you'd object to my covering the bill for this, ne?"

Tsugiharu had finished his own meal as well.

"Why not, Asahina-sama. I'll cover the next meal we share together." he offered.

Which unless she suddenly developed a ravenous appetite for mall food was going to be a fraction of the price. But a true samurai did not concern themselves with matters of mere money.

It had certainly crossed her own mind as well, and she was a business woman who felt no shame in that fact. "Of course Kuchiki-san. Just as this was my pick, I look forward to your own." She stood up and gave a bow.

He stood and bowed in return.

"May the Merciful One watch over you, Asahina-sama." he said.

And then he....

/exited!