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Naohiko would nod to the Crane and wait patiently for the Crane's wife. He took the interlude to enjoy the tea and treats he had before the woman came. If her stories or her looks were riveting enough, he would not be paying much attention to anything else. Such was his nature. When Kakita Sakura approached Naohiko, the Kraken appraised the bird-like woman. Naohiko was not sure of the Sakura's age. The minorclansman returned the Kakita's bow, deepening it a bit to reflect his station. "Hello, Kakita-san. My name is Himura Naohiko of the Kraken clan.I've heard that your teahouse has quite the history and that you might be willing to share it with me. I would be honored if this were the case."

The Match-ups
NORTH vs SOUTH
Bayushi Kojiro (+2) vs Mirumoto Katsunan (+1) - Southern Advantage
Daigotsu Josuke (+1) vs Shosuro Nene (+3) - Southern Advantage
Himura Gendo vs Tara (+2) - 8/19
Akodo Tamafune (+2) vs Kuni Taniko (+3) - Southern Advantage
Ide Seibei (+1) vs Shosuro Kyouya - 12/19
Matsu Ami (+3) vs Kitsuki Senzo (+3) - South Checkmate

Bye: Yoritomo Katsue (South)

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@ Gendo:

It seems your luck against your hime has run out; you continue to play, but the peasant girl systematically captures one critical piece after the next...

30 vs Gendo's 26; Gendo loses 6 points.

As it stands, she's on the verge of checkmate against you, though she does not seem to show any emotion towards her winning situation. Instead, she seems simply fixated on the board.

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@ Kyouya:

"I may be in a difficult situation, my dear. At the rate I'm going, I fear I stand to dishonor my ancestors. Maybe if I do... this..."

27 vs Kyouya's 30. Seibei loses 4 points!

"... well then. I guess, in retrospect, I'm doubtful any of my ancestors have played Shogi either, so perhaps they won't notice. Ha!"

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@ Tadao:

"It's a definite ebb and flow with the southern forces; some gain ground and begin nearing victory, while those in position to conquer are pushed back, by desperation. Things are looking favorable for the South still, but they definitely have to work for their keep, it seems!"

Though the Ikoma would then turn his gaze towards Gendo's game, seeming to sense one commander's impending death like a sixth sense.

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@ Naohiko:

The woman, Sakura, would kind of peer at Naohiko from a moments, in a combination of studying him and simply seeming tired. "Not... particularly. There's many more teahouses with more history than this one," she would respond blandly.

"..." She would remain silent for a few moments, before 'elaborating'.

"My grandfather... founded this place. He was... a bushi." She paused for a bit, gauging you, before continuing. "He... was a man of few words." Another pause. "A man... named Hisashi... built that one." She would lift up her arm until it was parallel to the ground, pointing out the window by Naohiko's head towards the tea shop across the way.

A stout black-haired woman in a Mantis kimono was sweeping some dust out the door. She looked up and happened to catch Sakura's gaze. She glared.

"Grandfather... didn't speak much about his days before he settled down. Neither did Hisashi."

"..."

"... that's it, really," Sakura said flatly.

Her husband had been standing nearby, and he approaches at this point. "My apologies, Himura-san," he would say with a bow. "My darling Sakura isn't the most gifted storyteller, I'm afraid; doubly so, with it being so early in the day for her. She runs the Breath in the afternoon and evening, you see."

Sakura kind of wobbled slightly in place, but caught herself and stood rigid once more.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Himura-san?" her husband asked you.

"Thank you for your time, Kakita-san. I'm grateful that you chose to address this matter with me. I do not wish to interrupt your preparation for your shift I think I shall have to return to the castle after I finish here." Which is what he would indeed do if nothing came up.

The Match-ups
NORTH vs SOUTH
Bayushi Kojiro (+2) vs Mirumoto Katsunan (+1) - Southern Check
Daigotsu Josuke (+1) vs Shosuro Nene (+3) - Southern Check
Himura Gendo vs Tara (+2) - 8/18
Akodo Tamafune (+2) vs Kuni Taniko (+3) - Evenly Matched
Ide Seibei (+1) vs Shosuro Kyouya - 4/19
Matsu Ami (+3) vs Kitsuki Senzo (+3) - South Checkmate

Bye: Yoritomo Katsue (South)

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@ Gendo:

Despite being low on pieces, you still put up a good fight and hold your own, somehow! Tara seems taken aback by your resistance, and your ruthless maneuvering to take down one of her inconsequential pieces.

27 vs your 29; Tara loses 1 point!

She seems legitimately surprised, and looks up at you past you for a moment, before returning her attention back to the game.

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@ Kyouya:

Though smiling, Seibei would shake his head. "I'm a merchant, and I try to be a busy one at that. I'm doubtful my skills in this game will improve much, and no one would be honoring me by emulating my floundering. Ha!" Placing his hand on a piece and withdrawing several times, he would eventually commit to a move. "I'm not even sure there's any coming back from my position."

24 vs your 38; Seibei loses 8 points!

"At this point, I think I would be doing my soldiers more justice by offering my surrender rather than let them die senselessly. Would you do me the honor of accepting it, Shosuro-san?"

Kyouya, do you accept his surrender?

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@ Tadao:

"It looks like the second round is coming to a close! More soldiers fall, and once again, the South is on the cusp of overwhelming their foes! The North are holding tight, but how long can their resistance last?!"

Kyouya smiled behind her mask, nodding. "You're not as bad as you're thinking you are, Seibei-san," she said gently. "Even the best generals know it is best to surrender to spare mindless death of their men.


She bowed her head. "I accept your noble surrender."

Naohiko would spend his afternoon investigating all of the shops that sold Origami paper to find the one he liked best. After that, he would return to the castle and inform Kaichiyo about the teahouse rivalry, He would suggest that Gendo may stop by as the teahouse seemed to remind Naohiko of Gendo for some reason.

Naohiko - Kyouya Joint post:


Naohiko had dined in the great hall in relative silence. Gendo had taken Setsuna on an extensive round of walkies to make up for lack of activity, and Kaichiyo was lost in thought. No matter, he had a job to do and should probably stop shirking from it. Shosuro Kyouya was an opening that he should perhaps take. The Kraken samurai returned to his room after making several discrete inqueries as to where Shosuro Kyouya's room was and then took one of the amber necklaces he brought from Megumi Tenpi and placed it within his sleeves. He then set off towards the Kyouya's room.

It was unnerving to walk through the Scorpion's corridor, but most of that clan seemed to be occupied or otherwise engaged. However, what fear Naohiko held within him was replaced with amazement as he heard an enchanting voice seemingly beckon him forward. Shosuro Kyouya had left her door open while she chose to practice singing. Naohiko's eyes lingered on the Scorpion's long, dark hair and the way Kyouya's kimono exposed her tan flesh. It nearly took all of Naohiko's willpower to extend his hand to the door sill and it was there he froze as the Shosuro woman turned his way. Naohiko 's cheeks burned as his eyes instinctively fell to the floor in embarrassment.

"Ahhmm.....good evening, Shosuro-san. I'm sorry to interrupt you. " The Kraken snapped into a more professional poise, hoping to regain something that his oggling may have lost him.

Kyouya cleared her throat and made an attempt to adjust her kimono, before shaking her head. "Not at all... Naohiko-san, was it? From the Shogi games this morning?"

"Hai." Naohiko said as he stepped forward and bowed, still on the outside of the doorframe. "I wished to thank you for the help you gave our clan. I understand Himura Gendo-san was one of the last to fall and that Himura-hime was on the winning side."

"Indeed," The Scorpion siren said with a smile, pausing to gesture towards a seat opposite her at her table. "I'm not sure if my lessons were wholly helpful, but the outcome is as you said."

The Kraken would enter the room and take up the seat he was directed to. "Never the less, the aid is much appreciated and it would not do to ignore that." Naohiko would carefully take something out of his sleeve and hold it towards Kyouya. "We Kraken, are more than cooks and fishers though. I would be more than honored if you took this little gift of appreciation for your efforts on our behalf today." He would then extend an amber necklace towards Kyouya.

There was a soft look of confusion on the Scorpion's face as she watched the necklace for a bit. "Most certainly not. I'm not going to accept a present for something that benefitted me just as much as you." Kyouya offered two similar protestations, but after those, she accepted the jewelry with a nod. "You are far too kind. I'm not sure if our reputation preceded us, but you must certainly understand if I ask for a why for such a lavish gift?"

"I'm sure it is not as lavish a gift as those you are normally used to receiving, Shosuro-san. Besides, if someone from a family of renowned beauties finds it fetching, then surely will not others follow?" And then Naohiko would sigh. "I am intimately familiar with the Scorpion clan's reputation. It is a reputation that ensures whatever kindness that the Scorpion clan extends should be returned, is it not?"

Kyouya would pause, a small smile gracing her lips. The courtier had several things to say, but simply nodded after a bit. "Indeed. I must say, Naohiko-san, you are certainly more well-spoken than I would have come to believe. After watching you step down in your match, I had thought it was simple nerves. But now I would believe you are a very interesting individual."

"Ahha." Naohiko's face flushed somewhat. "A misstep on my part. I was wholly unprepared for Kitsuki-san. I shall have to return the favor at another contest. Hopefully there will be one involving ku....origami. " The kraken nodded, hoping to cover up his slight faux pas. Only Scorpions and Mantis used the Kusari-gama and few others cared for the chained weapon due to its association with ninja. "I hope that my actions warrant such attention, greater samurai than a Himura swordsman have fought and died for such favor."

"It happens to everyone. Life wouldn't be life without things to make us think outside of our usual methods, right?" Kyouya said with a slight nod. "Besides, isn't serving your Lady quite a high honor as well? Surely, you do your family proud already."

"If a Lady of the Scorpion clan says I do my duty well, I cannot argue." Naohiko commented. On examining several paintings along the wall, he said more conversationally "Are many of the pieces here yours? I recognize the style as mostly from Crane artisans, but they seem different in theme and tone to what our hosts have decorated other rooms with."

"Oh? Yes only a couple are mine. The rest I collected during my time here. Some of them have a talented hand for the brush and I simply had to gather them for myself." Kyouya turned from him to study the walls. "You like art as well, Naohiko-san?"

"An appreciation for the arts is a part of the training given to those of the Himura school. Kitsuki Himura himself was a master poet, for example. We all strive to follow his example. Life is too fleeting not to appreciate the beauty it contains."

With that, the conversation turned to the arts and other, safe subjects and after a proper interval, Kyouya bid Naohiko goodnight. The Kraken thanked the courtier for her time and left for his room and bed.