Postcards from Otosan Uchi
Summer Break
Day 50 - Ayase, Saizo, and Merquri
Meiyoko District
Saizo led the other two through a wave of humanity. The Meiyoko district had a somewhat seedy reputation as the 'entertainment' district of Otosan Uchi, but for all that, it was clean, and watchful Soshi, Soshuro and Imperial guardsmen ensured nothing got too out of hand. In the evening light the masses milled about looking for tea, companionship and especially, sake.
They stopped outside a small sake house with a smiling cat on the sign proclaiming itself as the Restful Cat Sake house. A burly ronin looked them over, before Saizo approached him and said something quietly, and the trio were escorted in.
Sitting down they saw that the Restful Cat was divided into a sort of eight-spoked wheel, with the entrance forming one of the spokes and the rest leading to private rooms of various sizes. The central hub held not only an extensive collection of alcohol but also a small kitchen and collection of teas.
A smiling and all too pretty serving boy took them to one of the smaller rooms, it being decorated primarily in blues and purples, with natural scenes of rolling hills serving as useful fodder for conversation, even as a small old (and seemingly blind) biwa player waited to be requested for music to be played
Kakita Ayase was not dressed in her finest silks, or even her day to day clothing, but in an unimpressive, if clean and well made, pair of medium blue hakama and a soft yellow kimono with the sleeves tied back. Her straw hat covered her cropped hair. The saya of Chōetsu was in a black silk sleeve for the evening, to protect the lacquer and maintain her lower profile, but she checked it with the polisher at the door when Saizo did. The walk there, she'd been quiet, thinking of other things. Still, "It's nice," she offered when they entered the room.
"Friend of a friend recommended it to me." Saizo said. "Anything that you wish for can be found here...so long as it's legal of course." He said waiting for them to sit down. "Order what you like."
She'd tried Friendly Traveler in Tsuma, as well as the very well-reputed brew the Crane served at the feast. But this was a Scorpion Sake House. If you're going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance. "I don't know any decent Scorpion sakes. If you could recommend one, I'd be honored."
"Technically this house isn't owned by the Scorpion...but what do you want in a sake? Something to knock you out? Smooth? Something to nurse? The general thought is that Silken Spring is the best Scorpion brew, but I've always been more partial to Ivy Water sake myself."
"Aye, I'll try anything you recommend" Merquri looked around, still lost in his own thoughts.
"Something that I won't regret, either today or tomorrow. Just...something that tastes good. I've tried Crab and Crane sake...I thought I'd try something else. Fortunes know that there's a reason the Lion are always after Crane lands, and it's probably not for our fantastic gardens." She gamely made the attempt at the joke, denegrating Lion sake, in some attempt to lighten the mood.
"Silken Spring it is" Saizo said. Ordering a round for them "Do you guys want music? Or should we let Oji-san go home for the night?"
"Heh. I always thought it was for the women.... And the men. Some quiet music would be good I think. Nothing too sad though." As soon as the bottle arrived, Merquri filled Saizo and Ayase's cups, then put it down for them to fill his.
The player began to play as Saizo was using the cup Ayase bought for him back in Tsuma. "I believe it's traditional for the first drink to go with a kampai?"
Ayase, automatically, filled Merquri's cup and set down the sake bottle. "Tradition it is."
"Yes tradition"
"Kampai!" Saizo intoned drinking it down in a single gulp.
"Kampai!" Merquri followed suit, slamming the drink back, and immediately placing it down for another fill.
The corner of Ayase's mouth crooked. "Kampai!" she drank it down in one shot too, imitating the others. She took up the bottle again to pour a second glass.
Ayase filled up their cups, and Saizo looked around at them. "Thank you both for coming out tonight...it's always a little sad to go drinking alone"
Merquri filled Ayase's cup after she filled theirs, and then immediately slammed the second one. "Aye it is. Thank you for inviting me. It's good... To take the edge off."
Saizo offered, "It's been hard for all of these last two months I think...two more to go before they let us out on to the streets "
"Yes... How has your training been going?" Merquri asked.
Another shot in response to that. "I'll live, I've learned a lot, but I honestly think I'd be happier going through the hell Kakita-san was going through"
Ayase was taking it easy on the second cup, preferring to sip it this time while she quietly watched the others. Same quirk of a smile. "It's getting better. Just forgive me if I fall asleep in my cups. It's not the company. I haven't asked, Saizo-san. I won't. But I think I'd rather take Hida-sensei's gentle reproach than whatever goes on in there too. I've been worried about you, Iuchi-san. Unicorn teaching must have been pretty different, I think."
"Depends. Less bokey involved that's for sure. Though my shugenja training has been progressing nicely so that's good."
"Bokey?" Saizo asked
"The bokken? I may have named it."
"...You named the bokken Bokey."
The first sake was just to try to get the ball rolling. It's the second that started to bring those things that sake promises. First of all...a relief from pain. The heat of Ayase's bruises lightened under its warm glow. "That's a different approach."
"You didn't name yours?"
The Kakita shook her head. "That'd make it...personal, I think. It just...is. The threat you dodge. The sensei haven't been irrational with it, at least."
"No, no I have not, I name things I like." Saizen answered too.
"It helps me focus my anger,” Merquri reflected. “At something that won't disembowel me for being angry at it, and won't harm my future political career should I take revenge on it."
"Anger was that much a problem for you Iuchi-san?" Saizo said drinking more sake.
"Not usually. Just something I picked up after my dad.... Died...". Drink
"...I can't speak to that, my parents are for now both happily living their lives. My condolences all the same"
Merquri dropped the line of inquiry. "Anyways but yes, you two seem to have grown much while you've been here. A testament to your skills no doubt.'
"Skills or sheer bloody mindedness" Saizo snorted.
Ayase nodded as a gracious acceptance of the complement, but mostly she took the opportunity, before she drank too much...to see how well their words match their actual mood. She didn’t mention it as she went on, however, instead rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "Have you gotten any letters? Kuni Katsuyoshi-sama wrote. He had a good case...used a dog follow the smell of a man from a piece of cloth back to where he was hiding himself. It sounded like a good idea."
"A few, but nothing from Kuni-san no"
"I got one from him. Someone has sent something to him regarding my training. It was good to hear from him,"Merquri chimed in.
"I feel like I should write more..." Ayase took another deep sip. "But I don't know what to say."
"To whom?" Saizo asked.
She shrugged, celebrating the fact that her shoulder didn't hurt for the first time in a long time. "Maybe Mirumoto-san. It would be a mercy to him, and honor demands compassion."
"Not following, but I don't know Mirumoto-san at all, so I can't really say," Saizo answered.
"Aye. I'm not sure how you mean. But that many we have much time for letters to be fair. And not that we can discuss much either."
"He's teaching at the Mirumoto-dojo. Didn't you ever have to drill the little ones? Imagine doing that on top of the Dragon mountains." Ayase made a silly face. "Sempai! I need to go to the bathroom!" A different silly face. "Sempai! Which part do I hold?"
"Not the pointy end,” Saizo laughed. “Still sensei already? That's impressive...never going to be my life though"
Ayase let the silly face drop, and finished her second cup of sake. "My brother likes it. My father liked it. It's an honor. Not for me, though. The Academy has plenty of the line of Masarugi in its halls."
"What about you Iuchi-san...looking forward to one day teaching little sprites how to speak to the kami?" Saizo asked.
"Maybe. Maybe one day I'll become a Sensei here even. But no, I have no particular aspirations towards teaching. Not yet at least."
Saizo answered, "...I can't see you as a sensei here, I'm sorry"
Ayase resumed her duty of topping off the others' drinks, but just listened.
"Neither can I. Life has a way of surprising you though it seems." Merquri’s eyes went a bit darker as he slammed the third drink, and filled Ayase's
"...You okay there?” Saizo asked, “We've got all night to drink."
"Yeah.... Yeah I'm fine sorry.... Memories...a little to recent for sober minds."
“Don't worry about it Iuchi-san, there's a reason why the gods gave us sake"
Ayase weighed whether or not to pry...but, honestly, rumors told her enough. It took work, but she was able to squelch the inquisitive impulse for the moment.
"Yes. I never understood why. But now I do. Truly it was a blessing."
"Thus so we drink, drink in memory, drink to forget, drink to understand, drink to confuse, we drink, for each other," Saizo intoned.
"Sounds like a poem, Saizo-san. Or the beginning of a song." Ayase sipped at her third cup. She was beginning to feel sleepy, as the sleepless nights and long days started catching up.
"It's something I read somewhere, can't remember where"
"Aye. I'll drink to such a poem." Merquri downed about half the 4th glass, but put it down before finishing it. “Maybe Shiori-san knows who wrote it. He's read many things after all."
"How was the little Asako doing anyways?” Saizo asked. “I have't really been able to get out to him"
"He's doing goooood. Has a large supply of sake. And a comfy bed. Place he works was creepy though." The drink was starting to get to Merquri now.
Ayase raised an eyebrow at that. "He only offered me tea....and....I don't remember what he talked about." Fortunately the sake was warming her up too, though she had had less than Merquri. "You weren't there last day off....I'd have seen you there. When did you get the chance to go?"
“A few days ago. The Sensei gave me the rest of the day off after... After I purified the armory. And the day after as well. Soooooo I told Shiori I needed a drink. And he provided "
Saizo poured another glass of the liquor. "Hey I'm going to order some food, you want anything?"
"Yes that's probably best. I'll defer to your esteemed judgement"
Ayase nodded assent to whatever Saizo was going to bring out out, but her mismatched eyes were locked on Merquri. She narrowed them, though the expression was made less hard by the sleepiness in them. "It was cruel that you be made to do the cleansing. There are other shugenja. I don't know exactly what happened....but it was cruel.”
“No... No it wasn't. I needed to do it. I hated it, but she knew I needed to. I'd have regretted it my entire life if I hadn't."
"Besides, if they're going to keep quiet, whatever it was, then it had to be him in the first place." Saizo said, gesturing at the door.
A servant entered with what appeared to be essentially a party platter of various sushi dishes, rice and some deserts. He quickly withdrew.
Ayase drew her chopsticks, finely lacquered black with a geometric pattern, from her obi. "As if half the city doesn't know anyway. Know enough to probably think the entirely wrong thing." She sighs. "But if it made it so you would not feel regret, than I cannot resent it."
"How else am I supposed to make peace with the fact that I killed a man?” Merquri pulled out his own chopsticks, clearly not quite realizing what he said
Ayase's voice softened. "They said it was a suicide, Merquri-san. What really happened? It must have been terrible. "
Saizo looked down at the food. ‘You get used to it,’ seemed terribly inadequate.
"He tried to commit seppuku. He failed. You all heard the screaming? I got to the door and broke in, not knowing what happened....I tried to heal him but Sensei stopped me. Had me "aid" him in Jigai instead. He'd already shamed the ancestors enough with his screaming after all." Merquri looked into his cup as he spoke. Memories passed through his eyes as he did.
It was the flip side of the torturer's interrogation. Sympathy, encouragement, a little flattery, a listening ear. It helped that it was all, perfectly genuine. Ayase listened, asking little questions, drawing out more details, and nodding in understanding as Merquri told his story.
"You might not have been the second he wanted.” Saizo said firmly. “But you were the one he needed...don't say you killed him. He killed himself when he started to commit to sepukku."
“Yes," she offered in agreement to Saizo. "You did nothing wrong."
"I know he doesn't see it that way. But I know... He doomed himself. I still had to force him to plunge the knife into his own throat.” Merquri paused. "Facts rarely help us get through our emotions it seems."
Ayase nodded and took a piece of the beautiful sushi. "May his spirit find peace in Meido before his next life brings virtue."
“He doesn't deserve it.” Merquri thought grimly. “No don't wish ill of the dead. That's unbecoming.”
Facts may not get us through our emotions. But then was that an issue with the truth or with emotion?. Ayase settled on emotion, but held her tongue.
"Raise a glass to the departed" Saizo said, lifting his cup.
The Crane lifted her own. "I can drink to that."
Merquri paused a second, then raised his own glass.
Kakita Ayase took another long sip, though she didn't finish the cup. She set it down. The sake was working its magic slowly. Her body, not in pain, and then it gifted a polite veil over some of the sharp and prickly parts of her mind. Sleep was creeping closer.
Saizo drank down the sake. He seemed to be mulling something. “Anyways, we should talk about something lighter, like I dunno...food or something."
"You're right.” Ayase latched on the change of subject. “This was pretty good. The fish at Kyuden Kakita are brought in live in barrels. But this was a bit fresher. Preparation is... about what you would expect though." It was an informal observation that implied the food might not be quite what she'd consider appropriate, for a dish fit for a lord in most clans.
"Not really spicy enough for my tastes,” Saizo answered. “But then it probably wouldn't be liked then by you or some of the other clients. Such was life? '
"It's exactly what one needs when drinking." Nom nom nom Merquri’s mouth was full.
" Spices cover the taste of less fresh fish, " Ayase offered. "It's good to know what you are eating." She popped another piece in her mouth.
“Well you aren't wrong, on the other hand, spices are delicious," Saizo said, spearing a roll and eating it.
"I agree to both these things." Nom nom nom…Merquri’s mouth was still full.
"I think I'd prefer knowing it hadn't gone bad, if I had to choose."
"...counterpoint, if it had gone bad and it was all you had, wouldn't you prefer to have something to make the taste go down easier?"
Blest with never having to have experienced such hunger for more than a day or two, Ayase shook her innocent head. "I....suppose. But hopefully that will never be a concern."
"...hopefully, but you never know where this job will take us, or what people will do to you to make a point.'
"Thankfully, the kami can bless me with food and drink, so I'm not too worried. At least I can learn how to say the proper devotions to them to accomplish such a feat... Should probably work on that at some point. Now that I think about it."
It was a grim thought. Best to push it aside and ask about this spell. " What kind of food, Iuchi-san?"
"SALT" Merquri suddenly said a little too loudly, ignoring her question
"....Salt?" Saizo asked.
"Yessssss salt. It helps food last longer. And makes things taste better...... The best of both worlds. In some ways the perfect spice." Merquri turned to Ayase. "With practice virtually anything, though the most simple version was just rice and water."
"...salt is not a spice, it's like something you get from the sea" Saizo argued.
"Put on food to make it taste better. Therefore spice." Merquri nodded sagely as he said this.
"Spice comes from plants, come on everyone knows that"
"So is soy sauce a spice?" Ayase sounded a little confused...and was slurring through the SSs a bit.
"....By my own logic, I have to say yes," Saizo answered.
"Rice comes from plants and isn't a spice," Merquri argued.
"So I didn't say all plants are spices, but all spices are plants. It's like squares and rectangles"
"Then why did you say soy sauce was a spice?"
"Because she asked if it was"
Ayase giggled.
“So you should have said no."
Saizo grinned. "Well we made her giggle so I'm going to say no"
"I'll drink to that." Merquri slammed the rest of the 4th glass
Saizo drinks as well....he was swaying a little, hadn't quite drunk like this in a while
Ayase raised her glass, if only to hide her blush. But her head was getting heavier and her witty responses were being lost in a haze of lost sleep. "Can he..." She gestured at the musician, "Play something else please?"
"...yeah probably what do you want played?"
She started humming a children's lullaby. "Like that?"
Oji-san" Saizo called out. The man dutifully begins playing more soft, sleeping music.
Ayase leaned back, head and back resting against a post, and closes her eyes to listen in silence.
"......................... This song was sleepy,” Merquri grumbled after a moment.
"I think that's the point neh?"
"Is it? was it reeeaaaalllyyy the point Saizo-San?"
"...I guess? Maybe she hasn't been sleeping well too"
"Fair assessment. Now..... Fish" nom nom nom
Saizo settled back. "Honest truth though, Ruby Dojo was way harder than I thought it'd be" Saizo said taking another sip.
"This was true. Who's your least hated Sensei?"
"...I guess the Doji? I don't really talk to her at all"
"She's my favorite. Whom would you most want to enter into glorious retirement?"
"...Kasuga-sensei"
"Ah. I haven't had much experience with him. But he certainly seems like a man who's earned it."
"You could say that. Scorpion are villains, he's okay with exploiting that"
“Unfortunate. Necessary for what we do.....I suppose that doesn't really help though does it."
"It was what it is, we all have to suffer in our own ways....she's kind of adorable all passed out like that"
Merquri looked over to the passed out form of Ayase. "Aye that she is. It's no surprise Yasuki-san was enamoured with her really."
“No, not really."
Merquri turned back to Saizo. "Have you told her she'll need to execute someone yet?"
“You found out too eh? No...didn't want to get inside her had like what happened at the tournament"
"I'm usually the one that purifies the executioner and the blade afterwards. It wasn't really a challenge to find out."
"Got you coming and going don't they?"
"There's never enough shugenja after all."
"Suppose not"
"Hopefully she goes through with it well enough," Merquri said thoughtfully.
"It's strange, she's usually...well a Crane, but there's these moments where the glass slips, just a little and you can see the cracks"
"mhmm. You're not wrong. Yasuki-san asked I look after her."
"Asked me the same, although there's not much I can do right now"
"Yeah. Same for me. To hard looking after ourselves after all."
"Plus well...she wouldn't want my help anyways"
"I don't think she'd want help from either of us to be fair."
"....well, she still hasn't quite forgiven you for Tsuma, and I'm a dirty Scorpion"
"She said she forgave me."
Saizo took another sip. "There's forgiving and forgetting, and forgiving without forgetting, second doesn't count. Don't worry you'll win her back some time. Right before we go off to all corners of the Empire"
"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Sometimes I look back and wonder..... Something. Don't remember what. Oh well. Seems really far away now doesn't it."
"What, Tsuma?"
"No these fish in front of me. Look at them. Soooooo faaaaaar aaawaayyy," Merquri gestured at the platter.
“You sir are drunk"
Merquri reached out to a piece of fish just out of reach with his chop sticks.
Saizo was feeling it himself, and damn if Ayase's lap didn't look inviting.
“No you're drunk,” Merquri protested. “But also yes. Yeeeeesssssss I am drink. Drank. Drunk. That's the word."
"...I mean...yeah...we've been tossing them back like...uh...onigiri"
"Whagiri?"
“You know rice balls like at festivals and shit."
"Oh shit yeah. We need some of those "
"...I'll go ask for some." Saizo said, standing with some swaying to go get some. He wondered where the third bottle of liquor came from. He returned with a basket of rice balls, and more collapsed than anything on to the floor with it, and offered some over to Merquri
"Yay. Rice balls.". Nom nom nom
Saizo ate some himself. "So....feeling better?"
"Yes. Thank you. How about yourself?"
"Whirling void of nihilism.....so yeah, great even"
"Good for you. She's sleeping.” Merquri glanced over at Ayase. “Given she's sleepy, success all around. All we need are fireworks and the nights a resounding success. That or geisha."
"I can get you a geisha...like I said, this place can provide everything, so long as it's legal..." Saizo waved vaguely.
"Too much work. Sides, I think our friend wouldn't like our booth being invaded by geisha."
: "...probably not...she'd want to go to someplace by herself...probably keeping herself pure for marriage too at that"
Ayase stirred slightly, slumping further down the pillar. She was clearly all the way asleep.
"....We should get 'er to a bed,” Saizo observed.
"Laaaaammmmmeeeee. But yes..... We probably should." Duty won for the Iuchi.
"...Well you're the pony you carry her"
".... You just want her to slap me instead of you when she wakes up don't you."
"No? You just brag about your strength so much....but fine I'll do it" Saizo stood up and swayed for a bit before managing to pick up Ayase in a sort of fireman's carry.
"You're going to drop her. I'll do it." Merquri picked her up easily.
"If you were going to do it anyways, why did you complain about it?"
Ayase mumbled "Kashi..pu' me down...not a baby...".
"Don't carry babies like that...” Saizo answered. “Gotta smacking ofte enough to remember that...inn or the dojo you think?"
Ayase’s kimono slipped open enough to show some slender neck and darkly bruised shoulder. But she nuzzled into the Iuchi’s arms and was still again.
"...Hida was driving her hard." Saizo said, still swaying somewhat as they leave the sake house
"Yes he is. We NEVER speak of this moment. Agreed"
"What moment?"
“Good man."
“No just one far too drunk to get into your wrestling match." Saizo said as they headed back towards the dojo, picking up their daisho as they went.
Meiyoko District
Saizo led the other two through a wave of humanity. The Meiyoko district had a somewhat seedy reputation as the 'entertainment' district of Otosan Uchi, but for all that, it was clean, and watchful Soshi, Soshuro and Imperial guardsmen ensured nothing got too out of hand. In the evening light the masses milled about looking for tea, companionship and especially, sake.
They stopped outside a small sake house with a smiling cat on the sign proclaiming itself as the Restful Cat Sake house. A burly ronin looked them over, before Saizo approached him and said something quietly, and the trio were escorted in.
Sitting down they saw that the Restful Cat was divided into a sort of eight-spoked wheel, with the entrance forming one of the spokes and the rest leading to private rooms of various sizes. The central hub held not only an extensive collection of alcohol but also a small kitchen and collection of teas.
A smiling and all too pretty serving boy took them to one of the smaller rooms, it being decorated primarily in blues and purples, with natural scenes of rolling hills serving as useful fodder for conversation, even as a small old (and seemingly blind) biwa player waited to be requested for music to be played
Kakita Ayase was not dressed in her finest silks, or even her day to day clothing, but in an unimpressive, if clean and well made, pair of medium blue hakama and a soft yellow kimono with the sleeves tied back. Her straw hat covered her cropped hair. The saya of Chōetsu was in a black silk sleeve for the evening, to protect the lacquer and maintain her lower profile, but she checked it with the polisher at the door when Saizo did. The walk there, she'd been quiet, thinking of other things. Still, "It's nice," she offered when they entered the room.
"Friend of a friend recommended it to me." Saizo said. "Anything that you wish for can be found here...so long as it's legal of course." He said waiting for them to sit down. "Order what you like."
She'd tried Friendly Traveler in Tsuma, as well as the very well-reputed brew the Crane served at the feast. But this was a Scorpion Sake House. If you're going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance. "I don't know any decent Scorpion sakes. If you could recommend one, I'd be honored."
"Technically this house isn't owned by the Scorpion...but what do you want in a sake? Something to knock you out? Smooth? Something to nurse? The general thought is that Silken Spring is the best Scorpion brew, but I've always been more partial to Ivy Water sake myself."
"Aye, I'll try anything you recommend" Merquri looked around, still lost in his own thoughts.
"Something that I won't regret, either today or tomorrow. Just...something that tastes good. I've tried Crab and Crane sake...I thought I'd try something else. Fortunes know that there's a reason the Lion are always after Crane lands, and it's probably not for our fantastic gardens." She gamely made the attempt at the joke, denegrating Lion sake, in some attempt to lighten the mood.
"Silken Spring it is" Saizo said. Ordering a round for them "Do you guys want music? Or should we let Oji-san go home for the night?"
"Heh. I always thought it was for the women.... And the men. Some quiet music would be good I think. Nothing too sad though." As soon as the bottle arrived, Merquri filled Saizo and Ayase's cups, then put it down for them to fill his.
The player began to play as Saizo was using the cup Ayase bought for him back in Tsuma. "I believe it's traditional for the first drink to go with a kampai?"
Ayase, automatically, filled Merquri's cup and set down the sake bottle. "Tradition it is."
"Yes tradition"
"Kampai!" Saizo intoned drinking it down in a single gulp.
"Kampai!" Merquri followed suit, slamming the drink back, and immediately placing it down for another fill.
The corner of Ayase's mouth crooked. "Kampai!" she drank it down in one shot too, imitating the others. She took up the bottle again to pour a second glass.
Ayase filled up their cups, and Saizo looked around at them. "Thank you both for coming out tonight...it's always a little sad to go drinking alone"
Merquri filled Ayase's cup after she filled theirs, and then immediately slammed the second one. "Aye it is. Thank you for inviting me. It's good... To take the edge off."
Saizo offered, "It's been hard for all of these last two months I think...two more to go before they let us out on to the streets "
"Yes... How has your training been going?" Merquri asked.
Another shot in response to that. "I'll live, I've learned a lot, but I honestly think I'd be happier going through the hell Kakita-san was going through"
Ayase was taking it easy on the second cup, preferring to sip it this time while she quietly watched the others. Same quirk of a smile. "It's getting better. Just forgive me if I fall asleep in my cups. It's not the company. I haven't asked, Saizo-san. I won't. But I think I'd rather take Hida-sensei's gentle reproach than whatever goes on in there too. I've been worried about you, Iuchi-san. Unicorn teaching must have been pretty different, I think."
"Depends. Less bokey involved that's for sure. Though my shugenja training has been progressing nicely so that's good."
"Bokey?" Saizo asked
"The bokken? I may have named it."
"...You named the bokken Bokey."
The first sake was just to try to get the ball rolling. It's the second that started to bring those things that sake promises. First of all...a relief from pain. The heat of Ayase's bruises lightened under its warm glow. "That's a different approach."
"You didn't name yours?"
The Kakita shook her head. "That'd make it...personal, I think. It just...is. The threat you dodge. The sensei haven't been irrational with it, at least."
"No, no I have not, I name things I like." Saizen answered too.
"It helps me focus my anger,” Merquri reflected. “At something that won't disembowel me for being angry at it, and won't harm my future political career should I take revenge on it."
"Anger was that much a problem for you Iuchi-san?" Saizo said drinking more sake.
"Not usually. Just something I picked up after my dad.... Died...". Drink
"...I can't speak to that, my parents are for now both happily living their lives. My condolences all the same"
Merquri dropped the line of inquiry. "Anyways but yes, you two seem to have grown much while you've been here. A testament to your skills no doubt.'
"Skills or sheer bloody mindedness" Saizo snorted.
Ayase nodded as a gracious acceptance of the complement, but mostly she took the opportunity, before she drank too much...to see how well their words match their actual mood. She didn’t mention it as she went on, however, instead rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. "Have you gotten any letters? Kuni Katsuyoshi-sama wrote. He had a good case...used a dog follow the smell of a man from a piece of cloth back to where he was hiding himself. It sounded like a good idea."
"A few, but nothing from Kuni-san no"
"I got one from him. Someone has sent something to him regarding my training. It was good to hear from him,"Merquri chimed in.
"I feel like I should write more..." Ayase took another deep sip. "But I don't know what to say."
"To whom?" Saizo asked.
She shrugged, celebrating the fact that her shoulder didn't hurt for the first time in a long time. "Maybe Mirumoto-san. It would be a mercy to him, and honor demands compassion."
"Not following, but I don't know Mirumoto-san at all, so I can't really say," Saizo answered.
"Aye. I'm not sure how you mean. But that many we have much time for letters to be fair. And not that we can discuss much either."
"He's teaching at the Mirumoto-dojo. Didn't you ever have to drill the little ones? Imagine doing that on top of the Dragon mountains." Ayase made a silly face. "Sempai! I need to go to the bathroom!" A different silly face. "Sempai! Which part do I hold?"
"Not the pointy end,” Saizo laughed. “Still sensei already? That's impressive...never going to be my life though"
Ayase let the silly face drop, and finished her second cup of sake. "My brother likes it. My father liked it. It's an honor. Not for me, though. The Academy has plenty of the line of Masarugi in its halls."
"What about you Iuchi-san...looking forward to one day teaching little sprites how to speak to the kami?" Saizo asked.
"Maybe. Maybe one day I'll become a Sensei here even. But no, I have no particular aspirations towards teaching. Not yet at least."
Saizo answered, "...I can't see you as a sensei here, I'm sorry"
Ayase resumed her duty of topping off the others' drinks, but just listened.
"Neither can I. Life has a way of surprising you though it seems." Merquri’s eyes went a bit darker as he slammed the third drink, and filled Ayase's
"...You okay there?” Saizo asked, “We've got all night to drink."
"Yeah.... Yeah I'm fine sorry.... Memories...a little to recent for sober minds."
“Don't worry about it Iuchi-san, there's a reason why the gods gave us sake"
Ayase weighed whether or not to pry...but, honestly, rumors told her enough. It took work, but she was able to squelch the inquisitive impulse for the moment.
"Yes. I never understood why. But now I do. Truly it was a blessing."
"Thus so we drink, drink in memory, drink to forget, drink to understand, drink to confuse, we drink, for each other," Saizo intoned.
"Sounds like a poem, Saizo-san. Or the beginning of a song." Ayase sipped at her third cup. She was beginning to feel sleepy, as the sleepless nights and long days started catching up.
"It's something I read somewhere, can't remember where"
"Aye. I'll drink to such a poem." Merquri downed about half the 4th glass, but put it down before finishing it. “Maybe Shiori-san knows who wrote it. He's read many things after all."
"How was the little Asako doing anyways?” Saizo asked. “I have't really been able to get out to him"
"He's doing goooood. Has a large supply of sake. And a comfy bed. Place he works was creepy though." The drink was starting to get to Merquri now.
Ayase raised an eyebrow at that. "He only offered me tea....and....I don't remember what he talked about." Fortunately the sake was warming her up too, though she had had less than Merquri. "You weren't there last day off....I'd have seen you there. When did you get the chance to go?"
“A few days ago. The Sensei gave me the rest of the day off after... After I purified the armory. And the day after as well. Soooooo I told Shiori I needed a drink. And he provided "
Saizo poured another glass of the liquor. "Hey I'm going to order some food, you want anything?"
"Yes that's probably best. I'll defer to your esteemed judgement"
Ayase nodded assent to whatever Saizo was going to bring out out, but her mismatched eyes were locked on Merquri. She narrowed them, though the expression was made less hard by the sleepiness in them. "It was cruel that you be made to do the cleansing. There are other shugenja. I don't know exactly what happened....but it was cruel.”
“No... No it wasn't. I needed to do it. I hated it, but she knew I needed to. I'd have regretted it my entire life if I hadn't."
"Besides, if they're going to keep quiet, whatever it was, then it had to be him in the first place." Saizo said, gesturing at the door.
A servant entered with what appeared to be essentially a party platter of various sushi dishes, rice and some deserts. He quickly withdrew.
Ayase drew her chopsticks, finely lacquered black with a geometric pattern, from her obi. "As if half the city doesn't know anyway. Know enough to probably think the entirely wrong thing." She sighs. "But if it made it so you would not feel regret, than I cannot resent it."
"How else am I supposed to make peace with the fact that I killed a man?” Merquri pulled out his own chopsticks, clearly not quite realizing what he said
Ayase's voice softened. "They said it was a suicide, Merquri-san. What really happened? It must have been terrible. "
Saizo looked down at the food. ‘You get used to it,’ seemed terribly inadequate.
"He tried to commit seppuku. He failed. You all heard the screaming? I got to the door and broke in, not knowing what happened....I tried to heal him but Sensei stopped me. Had me "aid" him in Jigai instead. He'd already shamed the ancestors enough with his screaming after all." Merquri looked into his cup as he spoke. Memories passed through his eyes as he did.
It was the flip side of the torturer's interrogation. Sympathy, encouragement, a little flattery, a listening ear. It helped that it was all, perfectly genuine. Ayase listened, asking little questions, drawing out more details, and nodding in understanding as Merquri told his story.
"You might not have been the second he wanted.” Saizo said firmly. “But you were the one he needed...don't say you killed him. He killed himself when he started to commit to sepukku."
“Yes," she offered in agreement to Saizo. "You did nothing wrong."
"I know he doesn't see it that way. But I know... He doomed himself. I still had to force him to plunge the knife into his own throat.” Merquri paused. "Facts rarely help us get through our emotions it seems."
Ayase nodded and took a piece of the beautiful sushi. "May his spirit find peace in Meido before his next life brings virtue."
“He doesn't deserve it.” Merquri thought grimly. “No don't wish ill of the dead. That's unbecoming.”
Facts may not get us through our emotions. But then was that an issue with the truth or with emotion?. Ayase settled on emotion, but held her tongue.
"Raise a glass to the departed" Saizo said, lifting his cup.
The Crane lifted her own. "I can drink to that."
Merquri paused a second, then raised his own glass.
Kakita Ayase took another long sip, though she didn't finish the cup. She set it down. The sake was working its magic slowly. Her body, not in pain, and then it gifted a polite veil over some of the sharp and prickly parts of her mind. Sleep was creeping closer.
Saizo drank down the sake. He seemed to be mulling something. “Anyways, we should talk about something lighter, like I dunno...food or something."
"You're right.” Ayase latched on the change of subject. “This was pretty good. The fish at Kyuden Kakita are brought in live in barrels. But this was a bit fresher. Preparation is... about what you would expect though." It was an informal observation that implied the food might not be quite what she'd consider appropriate, for a dish fit for a lord in most clans.
"Not really spicy enough for my tastes,” Saizo answered. “But then it probably wouldn't be liked then by you or some of the other clients. Such was life? '
"It's exactly what one needs when drinking." Nom nom nom Merquri’s mouth was full.
" Spices cover the taste of less fresh fish, " Ayase offered. "It's good to know what you are eating." She popped another piece in her mouth.
“Well you aren't wrong, on the other hand, spices are delicious," Saizo said, spearing a roll and eating it.
"I agree to both these things." Nom nom nom…Merquri’s mouth was still full.
"I think I'd prefer knowing it hadn't gone bad, if I had to choose."
"...counterpoint, if it had gone bad and it was all you had, wouldn't you prefer to have something to make the taste go down easier?"
Blest with never having to have experienced such hunger for more than a day or two, Ayase shook her innocent head. "I....suppose. But hopefully that will never be a concern."
"...hopefully, but you never know where this job will take us, or what people will do to you to make a point.'
"Thankfully, the kami can bless me with food and drink, so I'm not too worried. At least I can learn how to say the proper devotions to them to accomplish such a feat... Should probably work on that at some point. Now that I think about it."
It was a grim thought. Best to push it aside and ask about this spell. " What kind of food, Iuchi-san?"
"SALT" Merquri suddenly said a little too loudly, ignoring her question
"....Salt?" Saizo asked.
"Yessssss salt. It helps food last longer. And makes things taste better...... The best of both worlds. In some ways the perfect spice." Merquri turned to Ayase. "With practice virtually anything, though the most simple version was just rice and water."
"...salt is not a spice, it's like something you get from the sea" Saizo argued.
"Put on food to make it taste better. Therefore spice." Merquri nodded sagely as he said this.
"Spice comes from plants, come on everyone knows that"
"So is soy sauce a spice?" Ayase sounded a little confused...and was slurring through the SSs a bit.
"....By my own logic, I have to say yes," Saizo answered.
"Rice comes from plants and isn't a spice," Merquri argued.
"So I didn't say all plants are spices, but all spices are plants. It's like squares and rectangles"
"Then why did you say soy sauce was a spice?"
"Because she asked if it was"
Ayase giggled.
“So you should have said no."
Saizo grinned. "Well we made her giggle so I'm going to say no"
"I'll drink to that." Merquri slammed the rest of the 4th glass
Saizo drinks as well....he was swaying a little, hadn't quite drunk like this in a while
Ayase raised her glass, if only to hide her blush. But her head was getting heavier and her witty responses were being lost in a haze of lost sleep. "Can he..." She gestured at the musician, "Play something else please?"
"...yeah probably what do you want played?"
She started humming a children's lullaby. "Like that?"
Oji-san" Saizo called out. The man dutifully begins playing more soft, sleeping music.
Ayase leaned back, head and back resting against a post, and closes her eyes to listen in silence.
"......................... This song was sleepy,” Merquri grumbled after a moment.
"I think that's the point neh?"
"Is it? was it reeeaaaalllyyy the point Saizo-San?"
"...I guess? Maybe she hasn't been sleeping well too"
"Fair assessment. Now..... Fish" nom nom nom
Saizo settled back. "Honest truth though, Ruby Dojo was way harder than I thought it'd be" Saizo said taking another sip.
"This was true. Who's your least hated Sensei?"
"...I guess the Doji? I don't really talk to her at all"
"She's my favorite. Whom would you most want to enter into glorious retirement?"
"...Kasuga-sensei"
"Ah. I haven't had much experience with him. But he certainly seems like a man who's earned it."
"You could say that. Scorpion are villains, he's okay with exploiting that"
“Unfortunate. Necessary for what we do.....I suppose that doesn't really help though does it."
"It was what it is, we all have to suffer in our own ways....she's kind of adorable all passed out like that"
Merquri looked over to the passed out form of Ayase. "Aye that she is. It's no surprise Yasuki-san was enamoured with her really."
“No, not really."
Merquri turned back to Saizo. "Have you told her she'll need to execute someone yet?"
“You found out too eh? No...didn't want to get inside her had like what happened at the tournament"
"I'm usually the one that purifies the executioner and the blade afterwards. It wasn't really a challenge to find out."
"Got you coming and going don't they?"
"There's never enough shugenja after all."
"Suppose not"
"Hopefully she goes through with it well enough," Merquri said thoughtfully.
"It's strange, she's usually...well a Crane, but there's these moments where the glass slips, just a little and you can see the cracks"
"mhmm. You're not wrong. Yasuki-san asked I look after her."
"Asked me the same, although there's not much I can do right now"
"Yeah. Same for me. To hard looking after ourselves after all."
"Plus well...she wouldn't want my help anyways"
"I don't think she'd want help from either of us to be fair."
"....well, she still hasn't quite forgiven you for Tsuma, and I'm a dirty Scorpion"
"She said she forgave me."
Saizo took another sip. "There's forgiving and forgetting, and forgiving without forgetting, second doesn't count. Don't worry you'll win her back some time. Right before we go off to all corners of the Empire"
"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Sometimes I look back and wonder..... Something. Don't remember what. Oh well. Seems really far away now doesn't it."
"What, Tsuma?"
"No these fish in front of me. Look at them. Soooooo faaaaaar aaawaayyy," Merquri gestured at the platter.
“You sir are drunk"
Merquri reached out to a piece of fish just out of reach with his chop sticks.
Saizo was feeling it himself, and damn if Ayase's lap didn't look inviting.
“No you're drunk,” Merquri protested. “But also yes. Yeeeeesssssss I am drink. Drank. Drunk. That's the word."
"...I mean...yeah...we've been tossing them back like...uh...onigiri"
"Whagiri?"
“You know rice balls like at festivals and shit."
"Oh shit yeah. We need some of those "
"...I'll go ask for some." Saizo said, standing with some swaying to go get some. He wondered where the third bottle of liquor came from. He returned with a basket of rice balls, and more collapsed than anything on to the floor with it, and offered some over to Merquri
"Yay. Rice balls.". Nom nom nom
Saizo ate some himself. "So....feeling better?"
"Yes. Thank you. How about yourself?"
"Whirling void of nihilism.....so yeah, great even"
"Good for you. She's sleeping.” Merquri glanced over at Ayase. “Given she's sleepy, success all around. All we need are fireworks and the nights a resounding success. That or geisha."
"I can get you a geisha...like I said, this place can provide everything, so long as it's legal..." Saizo waved vaguely.
"Too much work. Sides, I think our friend wouldn't like our booth being invaded by geisha."
: "...probably not...she'd want to go to someplace by herself...probably keeping herself pure for marriage too at that"
Ayase stirred slightly, slumping further down the pillar. She was clearly all the way asleep.
"....We should get 'er to a bed,” Saizo observed.
"Laaaaammmmmeeeee. But yes..... We probably should." Duty won for the Iuchi.
"...Well you're the pony you carry her"
".... You just want her to slap me instead of you when she wakes up don't you."
"No? You just brag about your strength so much....but fine I'll do it" Saizo stood up and swayed for a bit before managing to pick up Ayase in a sort of fireman's carry.
"You're going to drop her. I'll do it." Merquri picked her up easily.
"If you were going to do it anyways, why did you complain about it?"
Ayase mumbled "Kashi..pu' me down...not a baby...".
"Don't carry babies like that...” Saizo answered. “Gotta smacking ofte enough to remember that...inn or the dojo you think?"
Ayase’s kimono slipped open enough to show some slender neck and darkly bruised shoulder. But she nuzzled into the Iuchi’s arms and was still again.
"...Hida was driving her hard." Saizo said, still swaying somewhat as they leave the sake house
"Yes he is. We NEVER speak of this moment. Agreed"
"What moment?"
“Good man."
“No just one far too drunk to get into your wrestling match." Saizo said as they headed back towards the dojo, picking up their daisho as they went.