The Day of Thunder

"It seems to be a war on more than one front." Hikaru said. "Lady Doji and Lord Ryoshun engage it in the spiritual realms, while we stand ready in the here and now." He grimaced, his right hand briefly clenching, then relaxing. "I wish there were a way more of us could lend aid in the spiritual. Alt...

"I..." Hikaru found himself drawing back in the face of this edible assault. "Perhaps I have." He admitted. "There's just so much to be done..." Carefully, he continued eating as she mentioned her children... Hikaru coughed as she smiled. He didn't smile back, but only because his mouth was full, st...

As Satsuki spoke, Hikaru gave her a sharp look, but then quickly looked away. He, too, knew the official line. And like her, he didn't really believe it. However, with Doji incapacitated, the question of what to do about it kept him up at night as much as any nightmare invaders. Instead, clearing hi...

A child (figuratively speaking) of Doji wasn't going to miss the subtext in Makime's words. It was only after Makime looked away that Hikaru closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Well. "There were others, in Crane lands." Hikaru put in, sounding subdued. "They were destroyed as well. Perhaps not q...

Hikaru looked away, but he nodded grimly. "The Crane have spent much of the last five years trying to correct our errors. By the grace of the Fortunes, I pray that we may eventually do so, even if it is the work of a lifetime." His chin tilted up once more, and he looked back to Makime. "I do not kn...

Hikaru glanced at Satsuki. They had known each other long enough that he could recognize her hesitation. And so, with a minute sigh, Hikaru began his tale first. He tilted his chin up as he began to speak, as though bracing for a blow. After all, he knew neither he, nor the Crane as a whole, came ou...

"Thank you." Hikaru breathed. He was silent, then, at least for a few more bites. "I met Shinsei about five years ago." Hikaru said. "I would say that he seemed..." he frowned, considering, "-cautious. Certainly not wild. I have not heard those tales. Although I've heard similar, just today." He gla...

"My mother was young when she joined Lady Doji." Hikaru said. "I believe she was learning to work with wood? I'm not sure." Hikaru shook his head. "She does not often speak of her life in the Seppun. She considers herself a Crane."

He did not return Makime's glare.

The pain that crossed his face at talk of Lady Doji's sickness faded at the mention of foolishness; Hikaru actually smiled at that. "I won't deny it." He murmured, before raising his own bowl to his lips, taking a first bite. "I've had my foolish moments. Sometimes they've even turned out well." As ...

Listening, Hikaru respectfully bowed his head at the mention of loss, oblique though it was. And he bowed his head again as she thrust the bowl of stew into his hands. "Thank you." He said. "A good night's sleep..." Hikaru sighed. He could smell the stew without bringing it closer to his face; inste...

Hikaru had gone back to frowning thoughtfully. "I must admit, I have trouble imagining Jiyo Sora-sama behaving in such a way. The path that took him from-" Hikaru grimaced, "-pissing on a wall built by a Kami, to rescuing another and advising the Emperor must have been a truly strange one. I suppose...

As directed, Hikaru rose to his feet. "A daimyo is known for more than just who she marries." Hikaru murmured. Even as he said it, though, his forehead creased. Who might Anjing have been if she didn't marry Hida? He brushed the few bits of dirt from his knees, pale eyes watching as she seasoned the...

"I'd be very curious to hear the answer to that as well." Hikaru murmured, one of his almost-smiles on his lips.

I'll cheerfully kick in a bit more for that!

Hikaru had more questions, but he wasn't about to tell Lady Makime that.

"Please continue." He said, politely, if a touch faintly.

Hikaru had been listening quietly before this. His adoptive mother had been there, but she wasn't a Kami, nor was she one of the most famous Imperial advisors in the land; there was little to add. But the respected Sora, Imperial advisor who'd aided in the rescue of Hisomu, pissing on a wall, got hi...

"I am." Hikaru said, inclining his head. "In fact, I serve Lady Doji personally." A pause. "Or, I did, anyway." He knelt by the fire opposite her; not as creaky, but he did feel a twinge of protest in his feet. "Long indeed, but safe enough. I travelled with a few others. We encountered no dangers."...

Hikaru's chin tilted upwards. "In fact, there were." The corners of his lips twitched as he struggled not to return her smile, only partially succeeding. "What sort of paint mix to mimic its qualities, techniques for painting something partially transparent. If I were challenged to paint this fog, I...

Hikaru straightened, then paused, frowning as he considered. It wasn't the warmest welcome he'd received. On the other hand, compared to Makime... and it seemed like good manners to demonstrate that he was not, in fact, some sort of monster. Besides, he really hadn't been eating enough lately. "Than...