The early morning found an impeccably dressed middle-aged man strolling in the park. He would occasionally reach for a plant to feel its leaves between his fingers or run his hand along the coarse surface of a particularly tall mushroom. All in all, the blackclad gentleman seemed rather enthralled with the park, a faint smile glimmering on his lips. One could have perhaps might have mistaken him for a Crane if not for the Spider mon on his back.

A morning in the gardens seemed like a fine thing to do, especially given that later that day she would need to deal with flowers. Wearing a dark outfit of her own, she took time to view the flowers as she passed, taking some cursory notes on a datapad.

Noticing the Spider, she gave a bow and a polite smile. He seemed caught up with the flowers, so she made no immediate move to interrupt him.

Katsuo replied with a smile of his own, pulling a fan from his sleeve as he walked to the Crane, fanning himself. His dark grey fan was decorated with white plum flowers, the middle-aged man pressing his hand to his chest as he offered a bow to Fusako. "Good morning Crane-san. I hope you have had your rice this morning." Standing up, Katsuo looked at the Crane courtier. "I am Daigotsu Katsuo."

Middle aged men usually had to have some sort of status, or were dreadfully boring. Never hurt to err on the side of caution though. She gave a bow of her own. "I have Daigotsu-sama, arigato. This one is Asahina Fusako. Have you had your rice yet as well?"

"Well met, Asahina-san." Katsuo bobbed his head again, softly fluttering his fan. "I have been thus blessed yes." Luckily the meals at the hotel were adequate. "Asahina-san is here for the miai, I take it?" What else would a Crane do on a Fortune-forsaken hell-world like Asakaze?

"It is about the only thing to be here for... at the moment at least." She gave a smile of faint praise. "What of yourself Daigotsu-sama? Surely not just for the garden walks."

"Well. I would suppose so." Katsuo nodded. "It brings me here as well, even if I am not taking part. I am helping my kin to make their picks." he added with a thin smile on his lips. "I never thought that serving as a nakado would have me come to a place like this, but here we are, on this quaint world." The Spider nakadao was being sincere, of course. "I've seen quite a few of Crane here. I am not sure if I should be surprised or not."

"A nakodo? I should hardly be surprised to see at least one there, especially with how many Spider are present." She nodded. "As for my clan, we always seem to have something to do with marriages, so it isn't so surprising to me to see so many of my clanmates here."

"Mhmh. Indeed." Katsuo bobbed his head. "Well, the Crane are known for their spouses, yes." Even in the 32nd century, Doji-spouse was still a thing and while the Emperors didn't really marry Cranes anymore, there was still prestige in having a Crane educated wife or a husband. There was expectation that Doji or Kakita would adapt to the ways of their spouse and try to live in harmony as a good spouse did - or that is what they were reputed for.

"We do not mind that at all, seeing how close our clans have become, yes." A wry smile dangled on his lips. "Has Asahina-san mayhaps met any of my kin?"

"It would be quite difficult not to have with how many have attended Daigotsu-sama," she said good naturedly. "You are the first I've spoken to from your family, but there appear to be more than a few Susumu and Kuchiki present that I've had the pleasure of meeting. Are you familiar with all those present from the Spider that are competing?"

"Ah, indeed. Despite what people say, we are not that different, you and us. Just as the Kakita seek the perfect strike, so do we. Now, we might not always see the matter of arts eye-to-eye, but believe me Asahina-san, my kin and your kin are not that different." Katsuo told her with a smile on his lips. "Ah yes, I their papers at least. If Asahina-san may, I would recommend her to seek out on Daigotsu Ryuu-san. A diligent man with a good pedigree. A Crane mother, I believe."

She noted the name for later. "I have not met the man, but I will keep my eyes and ears out.

A pause. "Perhaps you know something about Kuchiki Tsugiharu? It seems he is quite taken with me, but only met in Kayama, hardly a place to talk."

"I am sure he would appreciate that." Katsuo bobbed his head. "I am sure he would too." he added with a strange gleam in his eyes. "Kuchiki-san. I have read his files? Would there be something you would want to know?" The nakado asked even as he reached for his densai. "I just might be able to help Asahina-san."

"Merely if there was anything that would recommend him to an artistic and business oriented life. I cannot just take in anyone after all." Almost, but she did have a business to think about, and memories of her grandfather's mismanagement to warn her.

"Well, Kuchiki-san is trained in the art of medicine, which while not exactly related to arts or business, should make his skills marketable, would you not think so?" Katsuo replied, his fingers dancing on the densai. Looking up, he added. "And considering your Family line and his, certain advantages become evident, no?" He swiped few pages. "For what I can tell, his seed is strong. Or at least that is what his family records... suggest." Katsuo finished with a smile on his lips. "What more can one want in a man?"

Fusako took out her own densai and took some notes, nodding. "I can think of a few, but all such matters are give and take. I will have to probe him a bit deeper over dinner."

"Mhmhm. Admittedly his family is... rather poor, all things considered. Unfortunately capability and ambition do not walk always hand in hand. Kuchiki-san would do a well with a more zealous spouse. After all, what good is knowledge if it serves no purpose." Katsuo mused.

"Unfortunately, I think I should go." he added, glancing at the time on his densai. "I am sure that Asahina-san is busy as well. Do carry the Fortunes, all of them."

She nodded and bowed. "And you as well Daigotsu-sama. I might have to track you down sometime after meeting more of your... charges."

/scene!