-Otomo Hoketuhime
Sitting on the wooden bench, fingers softly plucking a koto, Otomo Hoketuhime sat. A small woman with fine porcelain features and deep blue eyes, despite her age, you could readily believe that she was consider amongst the most beautiful women in Rokugan at one time.
But that time is if not passed fully, of far less concern than her other talents. The one woman in the Empire who had consistently matched your father blow for blow in politics, for a time they had seemed fated to wed...only for your mother to interfere. Your father and mother never truly spoke of what happened around that, only that Otomo Hoketuhime had remained loyal to your father and you. Albeit going into a sort of self imposed exile, her last great act being to allow Bayushi Kaukatsu to assume his place as chancellor.
That she would be here now, is no coincidence. How she knew you would be here, you're less certain of although you're pretty sure that it wasn't hard to guess what you would do next. Quietly she bows.
Her voice is rich like silk, suiting her frame, yet grabbing your attention tighter than any binding.
"Tenno, would you let an old woman play her song before we begin work?"
Work? What game was Hoketuhime playing?
"...you may" You say.
With that she begins to play a simple
song by the standards of the koto, but she plays it well for that. Bringing a level of peace and relaxation before amping up again. As the song finishes you give a polite bow of appreciation.
"Thank you Emperor, do you wish to learn to play?" She asks.
"Perhaps another time" You answer.
"Ah always another time. There is a certain value to the arts, to clear the mind and push away the distraction to focus on the task at hand. But then, like most young men, the Emperor prefers more...forceful acts." She gives a knowing look.
The Seppun guards beside you look tense, as if expecting something terrible to happen.
You give a slight nod of acknowledgement.
"You can tell Kiharu-san, that I mean the Emperor no harm." Hoketuhime says.
Your guards don't relax.
"Peace, if she meant to do something, the Princess of Winter could do something much less obvious than this" you say.
A flash of something in her eyes, calculated? Perhaps, you don't know, and for the first time you realize just how much self control that that Hoketuhime really has. All of her emotions...are what she wants you to see.
Her voice is warm.
"So there are some who remember that old title...although you are right."
The guards relax a little.
"As you command Mikado."
You look at Hoketuhime with a slight raised eyebrow.
"I have to admit to hear that the Daimyo of the Seppun would worn his people against the daimyo of the Otomo is somewhat...surprising"
"Yes, it is isn't it? But I have made my oaths of silence, the only one who could tell you why is your mother. Of course she's spending more and more time outside the capital lately isn't she?"
"She's restless, its not a bad thing for her to do some work." You say.
Hoketuhime nods.
"I quite agree, do you wish to sit? there is plenty of room."
You shake your head.
"I'll stand thank you."
"Suit yourself." Hoketuhime says as she begins to pluck the strings again.
"A fine day for playing is it not?" You ask.
"Indeed, you've enjoyed your game with Akodo-san, I trust?" She asks.
You nod.
"I did, thank you. So you know of that?"
Hoketuhime allows a twinkle of a smile in her eyes.
"My Emperor there are few in these halls who do not know of the Lion summit. How is your wife?"
You take her serve and send it back.
"As strong as ever, thank you."
"It is good to hear that the Empress will return to us." She says.
"She is too strong to be held down by such trifling injuries for long." You say.
"Ah the vanity of youth, at my age I would take a little longer to bounce back as they say."
"Somehow Otomo-san, I doubt that you would even need to raise a finger to take Matsu-san apart."
"Oh, it is good to be respected by a fine young man. You have the same way of words as your father...perhaps a touch less ruthless though"
"There is a time to sever and a time to bind."
"As the Little Teacher says, the question then is what to sever"
"A tiger can only have one tail."
"And it cannot change it's stripes. Master Jobai? It seems that Kenku was well read." She says amused.
"Itsume-sensei was very thorough" You agree.
"I am surprised you brought your little brother out of his tutelage." She says.
You give a slight raised eyebrow.
"He wished to be at hand to learn the court ways directly"
"Ah, but is that all he can do?"
"What do you mean?"
"It depends on what you wish for the Lion."
"I wish for their continued success as any overlord would wish for their vassals."
"Ambiguous phrase, 'continued success' the Akodo certainly don't think so." She says.
You reply.
"The Akodo are not always right."
"No but in this case I rather suspect they are."
Giving the slight flick of your hand that is the equivalent of a shrug.
"Perhaps, but the honour and loyalty of the Matsu is not something to ignore"
"Loyalty and Honour are fine traits in a Samurai, but they are not the only traits a lord should have."
"Otomo Tairun-shiryo's commentary on 'Subtlety of the Courts' rather obvious isn't it?" You say dryly.
"I suppose, but allow me a little vanity for my own family." Hoketuhime begins to play again.
The song shifts into four different if related melodies. You understand her meaning, you think, she believes that the Matsu should not be left in charge of the Lion. However there is more than one way to accomplish that. As you listen to the melody, the under current flows through you. Taking her advice you let yourself empty, focusing only on the task at hand.
You see several options flowing out before you, along the music that Hoketuhime plays.
[] Simply appoint Akodo Shigetoshi and be done with it. Make some political appointments to salvage the Matsu's pride, and hope enough of them die in the oncoming war for it not to be a problem.
[] Allow Matsu Yoshino to become Champion, the Akodo will bend, they will not be happy, but they will bend. Arrange for the Akodo to have some tax relief to try and counterbalance the Lion's decline.
[] Unite the two lines with Akodo Dairuko and Matsu Yoshino. Akodo Shigetoshi will remain regent until Yoshino is ready to take over. No one will be truly happy about this. But the Matsu are unlikely to complain over much outside of Matsu Yoshino's direct family.
[] Arrange a competition between Akodo Shigetoshi and Matsu Yoshino in the upcoming war. Both will be granted an Imperial Legion to use, whoever does better in the war as determined by your Shogun will receive the Championship
[] You will have your younger brother become the Lion Champion with Akodo Shigetoshi and Matsu Yoshino as regents until he is of age. This is a rather drastic step, but none can really deny his claim. Although you will have to betroth him young if you do that.
[] You've got a better plan (Write in)
(AN: Whatever you choose there will be an air ring roll made to see how it goes. You cannot fail, but the higher it is the less trouble this will cause in the future)
