Day 2, Mid-Morning, OPEN, A hot meal?

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho tilted her head, a puzzled look crossing her face briefly. "Then do not call each of those things the one or the other. We were discussing the difference between luck and fate. Only the heavens know fates path, and if you would believe some, luck as well. Either way, what happens, happens. In such instances, perhaps it is better giving no label at all."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi ponders the Dragon's words.

"Perhaps, Mirumoto-san. It leads one into a rather circular path, Fate decrees such, so I will/will not do such, but Fate also planed for that, therefore...." Nobuyoshi offers. "Or perhaps everything is left up to chance, to make things more interesting."

"Mirumoto-san is familiar with the story of the Tiger?" Nobuyoshi asks.

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

The woman gives a very faint smile. "While I know a few, I confess I do not know the one you reference at the moment Bayushi-sama... though perhaps Toritaka-sama does, or another?" Her eyes flitted around a moment, as if re-realizing that others were still in the room.

[Usagi Zenko]

Zenko nods in return. "My thanks, Cook-sensei." He gives a little grin, before turning back to see if anyone else needed their meal.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"I am unfamiliar with the story of Tiger."

Punchiru has finished his meal.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

Nobuyoshi recites, the tale of the tiger:

"A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him.

Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!"

The brief story concluded, Nobuyoshi sips some of his strawberry flavored tea.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"Now that you have told it, this story does seem vaugely familiar. Honestly, there is no reason not to eat the strawberry."

Provided you could not use it to barter for your escape.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"True, Toritaka-san, but with death below and above you, and time making one or the other a certainty, it's easy to forget the strawberry. Nobuyoshi offers.

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho was thoughtful a long moment, eyes on her hands before she shook her head slowly. "Hai, I have heard that story before as well Bayushi-sama. However, I have always been of the thought that there is certainly another way. I agree with both you and Toritaka-sama that the act of eating the strawberries has a lesson in it, but I believe there is a way out. The act seems to show his giving up, something I can not really agree with."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"That's another way to interpret the story, Mirumoto-san." Nobuyoshi offers. "However, everyone falls eventually. One should not give in easily to defeat. But if you only focus on the struggle, you can forget why you're struggling in the first place."

[Mirumoto Itsuho]

Itsuho nodded. "It should be said for every samurai that they did all they could for their lord and the Empire before they go. Perhaps in the story of the Tiger, there is nothing that can be done for either, in which case the strawberries represent that letting go when the time is right."

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"It is a matter of maximizing one's opportunities, the purist explanation of the way of Yasuki. It costs you nothing to enjoy the strawberries, because you cannot simply flail and expect the forces of the market, the mice and the lion, to accede to your demands. So you eat the strawberries while you can, just as you find enlightenment where you are."

Punchiru folds his hands and continues.

"To continue my previous illustration, actively seeking wisdom is like keeping a guest room for wisdom all of the time. It utilizes resources which may be better used elsewhere, but if enlightenment comes to you, you will be certain to have a place for it to stay."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Forces of market? Like city guards? Nobuyoshi wonders.

Nobuyoshi nods.

"An interesting explanation, Toritaka-san." Nobuyoshi offers. "Have you studied with the Yasuki?

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"My training is primarily with the Yasuki, as are most court-bound members of the Crab clan. Our bushi are unfortunately one-sided usually, as there is a great deal of pressure on them to perform skillfully. Thus those who are interested in court almost always study exclusively with the Yasuki."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

I would think most crabs bound for court would be in manacles being dragged by horses. Nobuyoshi thinks.

"Ah I see. Service in the Ninth Legion is an interesting use of one of your talents, Toritaka-san." Nobuyoshi offers, his voice not giving much hint as to what he thinks of that.

[Toritaka Punchiru]

"I was so at ease on the sea while still training. Then I was sent to decipher meaningless tomes from beyond the Light of Heaven. I spent a year in cramped musty libraries learning languages which no civilized man has any interest in and assigning value in koku. When my sensei saw how miserable I was, she placed me here."