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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 3, 2007 22:08:25 GMT
Lu-Nai sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, with a small wooden slab beyond his knees, which currently held many teas and crackerbread with various satés. A maid girl shuffled in on her knees with her head lowered, a bowl of noodle soup in her hands.
Lu raised an eye brow, such an odd way for women to behave.
She put the bowl down and shuffled out with a bow, sliding the panel closed.
He waited for Hasekura in the empty room, after scheduling a meeting.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 4, 2007 15:33:34 GMT
The wood framed paper screen slid back, and Hasekura entered, bowing slightly in greeting to Lu-Nai. Motioning to the assorted foodstuffs, a slight grin appeared on the Shirezei's face, "I trust you find our hospitality adequate?"
Hasekura carefully lowered himself to a crosslegged position on one of the weaved reed mats, and nodded slowly, a grave look once more upon his face. "But more pressing matters concern us, no? The meeting did not go as well as either of us could have hoped, without a doubt."
"And what a strange occurrence, given our history, a Shirezei saddened by the possibilty of war....and seeking the counsel of a monk, how odd it is. And how worrying....."
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 4, 2007 17:02:47 GMT
Lu lifted the soup and took a sip, remaining silent for a few seconds. The noodle soup was exquisite, its slightly tangy taste felt odd to him, a man used only to bread and tea.
"A worrying state of affairs..." Came the soft reply, along with a deep thoughtful breath, "A wise man once told me; The clever sparrow does not land where the fierce Tiger roams... Perhaps we should follow the sparrow, and keep out of the tiger's territory..."
He sipped at the soup a second time, then placed the piping hot bowl back onto the kotatsu.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 4, 2007 19:25:36 GMT
Looking vacantly into the middle distance, Hasekura attempted to rally his thoughts. The meeting had left his mind quite jarred, but he was beginning to perceive things clearer again - thoughts coming easier once more. "Yes, but the sparrow can only stay away for so long. What shall we do when the tiger's territory is inescapable? There is only so much room in the world."
He sighed deeply, eyes flitting back down to the monk. "And the Imperium does not just want our land, it wants our very selves - our people, our skills, everything that makes our society individual. It would consume us, and make us part of it."
Another deep sigh, and a smooth hand moved to his belt, unclipping his katana sheath and holding it before him in both hands. "This sheath has been in my family for nearly 300 years. It has been passed down, from generation to generation, and has never changed." The hand removed the gleaming katana now, holding it slightly aloft.
"The blade was forged to my preferences on the 15th anniversary of my birth.....if there was some way, that our ancient traditions," He motioned to the sheath, "and the new ways," to the sword, "could work together.....without one using the other......"
Slowly he shook his head, and resheathed, replaced the sword at his side. "But that is a foolish and half-baked analogy, the meeting must have affected me more than I thought."
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 4, 2007 19:31:24 GMT
Lu frowned. He'd only talked to Lord Hasekura once before the meeting, and then he was a confident, if slightly arrogaunt individual, never the less a very likable man. Now however his moral seemed low, and his resolution shattered.
"Then there is indeed a dark cloud moving over the country..." Lu said, again lifting the soup bowl to his lips and taking a sip. "Excelent soup." He noted, rather off topic.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 4, 2007 19:50:36 GMT
"Indeed, a dark cloud that threatens to engulf us all." A slight smile broke the mournful solemness of Hasekura's face, Lu-Nai's last comment managing to raise his spirit slightly. "Yes, the cooks in this house are quite excellent. I always intend on hiring them in the palace, but it always slips my mind...."
Shaking this trailed off thought away, he smiled slightly wider. "But this must be quite a shock to your system. Is this your first visit away from the monastery?" A look of intense interest came over his face, and a slight happy grin upon his mouth, happy to have found an adequate change of topic, for now.
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 4, 2007 20:02:41 GMT
"I have left the haven only three times before. Two of which for only a day, the third was to visit the graves." He said simply and took another sip. "However, never have I come across such noodle soup." It was certain, he loved the soup.
"Have you ever been to the Minisu Monastery?" He asked, and placed the bowl on the table, once again. It was still too hot to finish off, so now he'd let it cool.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 4, 2007 20:43:41 GMT
"Once, as a young man. I considered becoming a monk, so taken by that intense feeling of isolation and serenity was I - but government office called, and I felt required to return and do my duty, to my homeland." Nodding in agreement to himself, Hasekura let his memory fall back to that trip, with his father, to the monastery.
"The cherry blossoms there I was especially enchanted with - there is one growing in my private gardens in the Palace, who's seed was taken from one of the Minisu trees at my request. Such beauty, in those trees....it always gave me a certain feeling of trust to you monks, the knowledge that you were in charge of tending to that exquisite beauty." A slight smirk at his sudden sentimentalism, and Hasekura's thoughts turned back to the present.
"But now that beauty is under threat. In case of that terrible chance, that war should break out, how is the monastery prepared? I would hate to stand strong here, in my fortress, while the monastery burned." He shook his head a tiny amount, saddened by the mere thought of such a happening.
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 4, 2007 21:35:41 GMT
The Monk took a breath, and rubbed his chin. A frown washed over him; "We are safe, so-long as the entire army does not attempt to breach the Monastery...It is impossible to use siege engines - the pathways are simply too prohibitive. I think only sheer numbers would take the holy building, though even then our men are so well trained, I fear only for the enemie's welfare!" He informed with a slight smile.
The soup would be cool enough to finish now, and so that's what he continued to do; finishing the soup off, a slight slurp escaping in the meanwhile.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 5, 2007 15:44:54 GMT
"I fear that is just what could happen. The Imperials are not, however often it may be said, foolish, and they will not split their forces to fight each of us simultaneously - in the unfortunate happenstance of war actually breaking out." Nodding sagely, he mulled over what to say next as the monk raised the bowl to his lips.
"If war was to break out, they would be expected to attack those who posed least threat first, and that would appear to be the monastery, to an Imperial tactician. I fear that the whole might would be levied against Minisu, simply because you do not seek out war." The sad thought worried him slightly, but he refused to let it show.
"However, as you said, the mountains are treacherous, and you monks are not as undefended as you appear. But, never the less, when you return to the monastery, be sure to mention that if required, Shirezei men can be sent as fast as possible, to bolster the monastery's defences." Hasekura had no problem in offering these men - unless the Imperials brought many war machines against the fortress, Ganura could be defended for some time with the non-military populace alone.
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 5, 2007 15:54:01 GMT
The Monk nodded; "We know we can always rely on the Shirezei. I am worried, though for the Hirren. The meeting proved that their leader is a warmonger of sorts, not something we need nor desire. If he was to stir up a battle, are we to come to his aid? For that matter, would he come to ours?" Lu asked, reaching for a cracker. It had been a while since he'd eaten.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 5, 2007 16:02:21 GMT
"Hmm....." This question had been tormenting the Shirezei since the meeting - to aid or not the Hirren? "We, the Shirezei that is, cannot be seen to have influenced an assualt on the Imperium - the consequences would be too dear. However, the Hirren - with their obvious dislike for the Imperials already, may force our hand."
Hasekura cupped his chin in one hand, then continued. "In that case, a decision that could shape our nations forever must be made. Relationships between Ganura and the Imperium have always been stressed, being two opposing military forces, but the amount of stress....who knows? The Hirren are, in a way, our kin - and their fall would easily give the Imperium the impetus to destroy us, especially without the Hirren to aid us in their way."
He scowled slightly, annoyed at this strange feeling of being unable to express himself properly. "We shall see. If the Hirren are struck against, we shall, without a moment's hesitation, send the force of the Ganura army to their aid, but if they strike first......then, I'm afraid I cannot be sure that I could garner enough support to send my men to a war of another force's choosing."
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 5, 2007 16:05:59 GMT
Lu-Nai nodded. "Then, I should leave, to tell the Minisu of the meeting. Odds are I'll be back within a few weeks, before the rain comes." The rains were not something to travel in, making the smallest creeks into the largest rivers.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Hasekura, but I ask of it again when I return..." He said politely.
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Post by Hasekura Takamori on Jun 5, 2007 16:16:09 GMT
Standing easily, Hasekura nodded politely to the monk. "Of course, and give my good wishes to the Masters, on a wise choice of diplomat. I can see you going far in such a field, young Lu-Nai."
Bowing once, he turned and headed towards the Shoji screen, turning back towards the monk before leaving, "I bid you safe journey, and good luck. May we meet again under less trying circumstances." Sliding the screen across, he left the room, and began to head towards the door out of the house.
Having a sudden thought, he turned, and instead moved towards the kitchens on the other side of the house. Once there, and after a short discussion with the cook, he left with a happy smile upon his face.
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Post by Lu-Nai on Jun 5, 2007 16:27:29 GMT
Lu-Nai left the room and made hisway across the neat pathway to the gatehouse. A pretty maid girl ran to him with a small wooden flask.
She bowed low and handed it to him, before scurrying back indoors.
Lu had no time to thank her, but checked inside the container. It held a large amount of Noodle Soup.
Excelent!
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