His stay on the planet had been quite the interesting one. Full of colorful local cuisine, and colorful non-local miai candidates. By his calculations his odds of matching with Asahina Fusako were fairly low. Some might question the wisdom of going to the most expensive restaurant on the planet with her, but it's not like you could impress someone like her with mall food.

So he got one of the fifteen tables in the main hall, and awaited his lunch date.

Fusako made her way in a bit later wearing what was, for her, a simple dress. Noticing Tsugiharu sitting and waiting for her, she gave a polite smile and made her way over. "Ah, Kuchiki-san, thank you for the invitation. May I?"

After a bow as she spoke, she gestured to the spot across from him at the table.

He stood and bowed at her approach.

"Good afternoon, Asahina-san, please do." he said. It was just a bit of ritual. It's not like he was going to turn her away so he could order chicken wings and beer.


"I must say, Asahina-san, whether it's in the strobing light of a dark nightclub, or the gentle lighting of an elegant restaurant, you certainly draw all the eyes of the room." he complimented.

Indeed, there might be a glance or two people wondering how a Spider got to have lunch with such a vision of beauty.

Fusako sat easily at the table with a slight smirk. "The silver tongue of a Spider, just as the other night. Arigato. Have you ordered anything yet Kuchiki-san?"

He shook his head.

"I'm not terribly familiar with the fare served here, and thought it would be better to let you order first. The Crane are the trendsetters of the Empire after all. No reason that shouldn't apply to which lunch is the best choice as well, ne?" he admitted.

She gave a small shrug. "This is not really the trend setting sort of place, but then, I am hardly a trendsetter in food. I tend to order healthier options, if that's alright. Perhaps some edamame and grilled fish with tea?"

A small apologetic nod.

"My apologies, Asahina-san, it is not fair of me to assume you are a trendsetter in all things. But your suggested lunch finds favor with me, nonetheless." he said.

That brought out a quiet chuckle. "So serious. There's nothing at all to apologize for."

She beckoned over a server and put in their order before turning back to Tsugiharu. "So then, I know I choose this place, but you were the one that invited me to meet again. Did the dancing make such an impression?"

He sipped his water a bit.

"Well, while it piqued my interest, there was no shortage of talented dancers that night, no?" he offered. "But if it was just the dancing, I guess I'd be having lunch with a Unicorn."

He shook his head.

"A miai is about learning more about possible matches yes? While a danceclub is a fun place to meet, there is a limit to the amount one can learn with the rhythm pounding in one's ears."

"Very true. Other than learning how you dance and your taste in drinks, in a way, all I remember is that you mentioned you were a doctor, hai?" She gave a slight smile. "So then, what else should I know about you Kuchiki-san? Tell me more of your training, where you come from."

Tsugiharu nods.

"I come from The Hive, which is one of the largest, self-sustaining space stations in the Empire. It is a large, hollowed out asteroid in orbit of a gas giant. My parents are both engineers, and my older brother follows their ways. My immediate younger sister has a knack for computer programming, and my youngest two siblings have yet to find their calling, being 4 and 5."

He sipped his water.

"While I do dabble in engineering, my particular interest is in that complex machine that is the human body. I studied medicine, and how outside contaminants affect it. As such, I was given an opportunity to serve in the military as a medical researcher. My unit analyzes contaminants and how they may affect samurai both during the conquest of a new world, and after."

He chuckled a bit.

"Which I must imagine is about as opposite as your own upbringing and career as one get get, Asahina-sama?" he offered.

Fusako nodded softly. "Mmm, it sounds almost as different as can be. Isora's Rest is anything but large and crowded. Unlike the Mantis, the Kakita don't build under the sea, and my father's family have always appreciated the openness of nature where they can make it beautiful. My mother used to work for Asahina Arms before marrying into my father's business, even though they took my mother's family name. She is a shugenja, while my father is a trained artisan."

She leaned her elbow onto the table and her chin on a hand. "I'm also an only child, trained as a courtier, and have had not a single thing to do with the Crane military."

Tsugiharu made a mental note of that. The Crane seemed to have sent an awful lot of only children to this miai. This did not speak well of their breeding capabilities.

He chuckled a bit.

"So what you're saying is Asahina-sama, if we're looking for the match that contrasts the best, to be strong where the other is weak, to form a more perfect household, we're pretty much nailing it." he joked.

"It does seem that there are many differences between us indeed." A pause as tea was brought and served. Fusako took a sip and smiled politely. "Though, you seem to enjoy dance as well, so it is not all differences."

"Hmmmm, should I forsake dancing then to be a better contrast to you, Asahina-sama? That is a grand sacrifice you are demanding as tribute." he teased.

She gave a small smirk back at the tease. "I'm not really attached to the differences Kuchiki-san, have no worries. I'd never ask for someone to stop dancing."

Tsugiharu nodded.

"Then I shall not forsake it." he pledged with mock seriousness. "Although, I am curious what makes dancing a passion of yours, Asahina-sama?"

"Hmm, why in particular..." she trailed off thoughtfully. "I suppose it's athletic so a good bit to stay active. I enjoy music, so it's something to do with myself while I do."

Fusako paused again before chuckling. "Besides, it doesn't take anything extra, like painting or ikebana or playing an instrument."

Tsugiharu chuckled a bit.

"Well, it's a little hard without music, but I would guess that Asahina-sama has little trouble visualizing the music." he offers.

The steamed fish edamame and tea made their way to the table.

"Speaking of which, what does Asahina-sama prefer as far as music goes? Most of it can be danced to after all, although temple chants would be a bit of a challenge."

"I suppose I enjoy most sorts of music, it just depends on the mood," she noted between bites. "I prefer much more upbeat and exciting music for dancing, ,hard and fast for workout, traditional for working or relaxing, and so forth. Only music I won't listen to i suppose is more experimental pieces. I prefer things I don't have to think about too deeply while I listen."