Well, even if he was of an inclination to protest loudly, he'd had an example to not do so.

Spider in the Phoenix. Huh.

In between all the mayhem, shouting Kitsus, and all the couples meeting, Nara heard her name called. Which made no sense, because why would she be called up now? She was last on the list apparently! Then she looked up at who called her name; Asahina Fusako. It took her a moment before she worked out why, and when she did her eyes lit up with joy.

I get to be with Fusako all the time!

She managed to not run over to the woman, walking quickly though as she moved to meet Fusako and bowing deeply.

"Thank you" was the first thing she said.

His name was called, and the bracing was done. His lips curled into a smile, his eyes half lidded. The storm was over. The future was laid bare before him. He had already begun speaking with the Lord Magistrate. The timetable was unknown.

There was a moment for the other emotions, then, he moved. Heading towards Moriko, the Spider Doshin moved to that destiny with great purpose.

Bayushi Akagi glanced in Daigotsu Ryuu's direction after Moriko said his name.

"Congratulations, Daigotsu-san," the Scorpion said quietly, bowing slightly as the Spider passed him, on his way to join Moriko.

Mission: Prevent the Crane and the Spider from strengthening their bonds
Result: Dramatic Failure
Consequences (expected): Very bad

Such were the thoughts of Akemi as the ceremony went on and on.

"Well, don't go getting all mushy on me all at once now", he said, suddenly standing next to her. He knew what it was about, he wasn't blind. Though this was public, he could at least pretend she felt good about something.

He took.her hand gently and whispered to her. "Come and see me later, will you?"

Hyeon-ju found strength in standing with her kin as things got heated, as now she needed to keep her own focus.

As Hayato said her name, she joined him and ignored the sighs of annoyance going through the audience as yet another rambling of Unicorn-ancestor names were listed off. Utaku, Ide, Iuchi, Moto, Shinjo - all the Unicorn-families were found in her family-tree. Of outsiders, there was Toritaka, Tamori, Isawa, even a Seppun very far back in the line, a Moshi, an Asahina, a Kaiu... truly, it seemed like the family-tree branched into several shugenja-families or talented pilots. While not a prestigous line like those who could be traced all the way back to the Family-founder, it was an illustrous lineage full of honorable and dutiful samurai who had served with Honor. Hyeon-ju could only hope that her ancestors were understanding of the situation that had led to this, and know that she would make the most of this.



The Lion rabble was... unseemly, and she responded to it with silence for now. Akihiko would learn the painful lesson that marrying for love was not always the kindest thing one could do to the one you loved. It would seem that the ideas of trying to form a stronger alliance against the Spider had not worked out at all this miai, but well... she was not taking the blame for that one now. Hopefully, at least the situation could be salvaged for the Unicorn.

"Hayato," she at least gave her husband-to-be a smile, and a bow. "Thank you. You look wonderful too... I look forward to introduce you to my fellow Unicorn here later, and later to my family."

Moriko didn’t come from money, nor could she boast the beauty or grace or even fashion sense of Crane in her bloodline, she was wearing the same furisode as yesterday, it was the only one she owned. If she had noticed Ryuu’s eyes stray earlier, she gave no sign, moving amongst the small crowd now that it was done. It would take an act of the Fortunes themselves to undo what the nakado and her Lord had agreed to, and Moriko—the little statue of Benten tucked in her obi—was sure at least one of them was on her side.

Mumei shakes her head a bit at her roommate's interjection. It was better to have left the outburst on its own, an understandable one off. Frankly, she agreed entirely with it.

She was less surprised by the Tsuruchi's choice than she would have been two days ago, at least. Unaware of the politics, and the fact that honestly, her own match flew in the face of some goals, she can smile fondly at what seems to be an at least harmonious match. She hopes the ostentatious Mantis isn't secretly a pirate. She didn't really want to hate him.

As Nozomi waited, she tried her best to process her own boiling anger. She had embarrassed them too in her own way but she was so, so certain it was the right thing to do. Only a coward cared what the so-called rules of etiquette were when something needed to be said.

She glanced to Matsu Hide again and nodded curtly. At the very least, the Crab and Lion would have one match, a viable partnership for the clan's trading. Even if the Crab weren't willing to do what Nozomi had.

Unicorn. She wondered how she could fix it. And just as ideas were flowing into her head, it was too late. Shoan was up there. They could split up, each take Unicorn spouses.


The words were spoken. The priestess gripped her fist, inwardly cursing her delay in advising Shoan. They, unlike the Akodo, could have forsaken love for their clans duty. Perhaps yelling had been the wrong call after all, clouding her judgment and all.

Nozomi closed her eyes and took a breath. Their dinner was ruined, at least by her standards, by her own grumpiness. She would not allow her fury to ruin their entire marriage.

So she smiled. First it was forced, to let the hormones flow through her brain, and then it was genuine. For all her failures, both vocalized by herself and her superiors, she still had her own little happiness. "We will see who smiles more," Nozomi boasted. "Perhaps your lips will end up hurting."

It'd been sometime since he'd seen Shoan. Chose a clanmate. Huh.

Shoan returns to stand beside Nozomi, the Murame unflappable as ever

Mildly "Well, that is settled then. I thought it best to declare in case there was a need to duel....half the audience on a certain someone's behalf after the ceremony."

Her tone is light but any samurai shooting dark looks Nozomi's way would receive an absolute death stare from Shoan.

Lowering her own voice just for her and the Kitsu
"But you did say exactly what I was thinking. It is not often a fiance knows they have chosen well even as they walk up to choose."

Chiruha only managed to look at Nishida for a moment before the outburst from the Kitsu caught her attention. As much as it was more polite to ignore it, it was hard to as the daughter of the host. It was between Lion and Lion, too. She slowly turned away and found herself looking at security, wondering if this was something they should keep tabs on.

However, when it finally simmered, she found herself breathing a sigh of relief.

The next few, Yul acknowledged with a nod, a brief smile as the strange friendly spider was chosen. But it was when Shoan chose Nozomi, and hearing Nozomi's response, that his expression brightened, his lips parting in surprise.

"Oh, I didn't realize..." Slowly, he smiled. "But it makes sense. I think they're gonna be really happy with each other." He murmured to Mumei, beside him.

"Did you and your clan have something in mind?" Hayato asked after a thoughtful moment. He hadn't exactly been expecting a party after all, but might as well.

"Your family though..." She could likely tell he was a bit nervous. "I'll look forward to it. I just hope they don't think I'm some sort of pirate come to abscond away with their daughter." The last was said playfully and she could likely tell he didn't mean it

His eyes shifted to Shoan when she made her choice, and a warm smile played onto his lips as she moved to join Nozomi. Outburst or not he was happy for them.

There was no reservation when he joined her. Chin tilted up, his eyes met hers when he arrived before her. His voice lowered, "Moriko-san... You have my all."

Hyeon-ju, like Hayato, seemed happy for Shoan and Nozomi. She was certain the two samurai-ko would indeed find happiness together... and she was glad she hadn't split those two up at the last minute herself. Even if she knew that both of them would have been quick to step up to make up for things.



"No plans yet, but I would be surprised if there won't be any celebrations or gatherings after this..." she remarked quietly, not wishing to disturb the ceremony too much.

A wry smile was given at his joke, and well... she knew her mother might not approve fully. Her mom though, would be sympathetic to what Hyeon-ju would have to share of the circumstances, and she knew her mother would come around to it too. And hopefully not decide to duel any Lion samurai crossing her path right away.

"I suppose we'll have much to work out, about the future."

There was no reservation when he joined her. Chin tilted up, his eyes met hers when he arrived before her. His voice lowered, "Moriko-san... You have my all."[/quote]
Smiling, “and you, mine,” she promised. Moving close, she let her fingers graze the back of his hand, a small gesture, private.

Mumei nods, having only learned of it that morning. "Yeah. I mean...I don't know Kitsu-sama. But I can't help thinking Murame-sama has excellent instincts in that regard," her hand brushes his. "so I'm not too worried for them."

Time felt strange for Akihiko. He had not been close enough to hear the exact words of Nozomi's outburst, but it was explosive enough that he could guess. He slowed and started to walk toward her, but he saw Hide engaging her, and it seemed perhaps better not to speak here. He stopped for a moment, inconveniently the moment when a Mantis chose Hyeon-ju, and it felt for a moment like Gorou had shot him again, and he had actually died. Except he knew this was worse, because she would have been better off with him dead.

In the end, Akihiko avoids the crowd, standing far to one side and away from virtually everyone he knows. His face, he imagines, looks like that of a samurai before seppuku. When he glances toward Shizuku, at least he can console himself that Ishiyo is there. His face doesn't change, but the size of boulder weighing on his heart at least is now a touch smaller.