Koizumi Inn

"You don't know what you're talking about," Riku promptly declared with a look of displeasure. He was none too happy to be the subject of someone's discussion on love and relationships. "You're not even old enough to have a boyfriend, much less a lover. Keep that conversation to yourself." Riku didn't even think about the fact Momotaro was sitting right there while they went back and forth.

"And don't say 'drinking buddies' like that - its inappropriate," he declared.

He began to search his sleeve for mochi but paused. "No more for you. I don't take kindly to teasing, even if you might - MIGHT - be family."

"Hahaha. You can change the season, the skin color, the hair color, and the time period, but youth is always youth, and age is always age." Momotaro pulled out his flute once again. "Young lady, one cannot rush love anymore than one can rush a song. Its notes must follow a certain path. And though music is an inevitable part of the human experience, there is little you can do for one who does not like the same song you do."

He took the flute to his mouth and blew, his fingers dancing the length of the instrument faster than an eye could easily track. The song wasn't a traditional Katashima song, but one a foreigner had taught him.

Meanwhile the pheasant tried to sneak a mochi out of Riku's sleeve.

Ruby sighs. She wanted Riku to stay, to tell her all about his life and his relationships. But it was not to be, it seems. And now her supply of mochi has been cut off.

"Well he's no fun. It's a shame he's almost certainly related to me."

She fiddles with Sharky's ears and turns to Momotaro, listening to his song.

"Huh...that doesn't sound Katashiman. I've heard that before. What is that, Momotaro?"

Riku's desire to be left alone is not respected for very long. One of the Yanata clan samurai emerges from the inn and say's to Riku.

"The Daimyo wishes to talk to you, if you are free."

While Riku attempted to be alone, the Yanata Clan samurai interrupted his attempt at peace. He immediately stood when the man addressed him and he bowed deeply in response to the request for his presence. Riku would then follow behind the samurai to be escorted upstairs to the room where Rin'Si was staying for the evening. He knocked lightly at his chamber door and announced himself, "It is Riku, my Lord."

The wave-man entered the Lord's chambered and bowed immediately upon entry where he pressed his brow firmly to the tatami mat flooring. For all of his courage he felt grossly intimidated seated before the Lord of the Yanata. The young Riku looked up to Rin'Si with a look of complete awe when enough respect had been afforded to the man with his bow. Presented with the daimyo's elegant calligraphy, he looked over the kanji for loyalty, honor, discipline, and knowledge. He nodded as Rin'Si informed him of the clan's utmost value placed within those tenants. However, when presented with the question he found he could not answer. After a long time he bowed his head to the daimyo as shame crept up into his cheeks.

"I do not know, my Lord."

"Humiliation will only breed resentment, my Lord," Riku dared to speak his opinion on the matter. "No matter Samari-san's foibles, to humiliate her will only anger her. I do not feel, my Lord, that is a prudent choice... But I defer to your wisdom in this. I am young and naïve where you are older and wiser." He quirked his mouth but otherwise tried to hide his displeasure. Riku didn't want to be involved in any sense of hazing or punishment against Samari.

"You're gambling, Lord Yanata," Riku quietly noted.

"And when you gamble, once you throw the dice, you cannot take back your choice. The die has been cast. I understand your intent and believe you may have the right of it, my Lord, but I need not remind you that if your gamble fails the consequences could be grave. At the end of the day you simply need ask yourself is this the best decision?"

The young samurai bowed once again to the Lord of the Yanata where he pressed his brow firmly to the floor. When he rose the young samurai smiled meekly at Rin'Si yet there was still intimidation clear in his eyes. He would not speak against the will of the daimyo but his words had been offered - a meager kernel of wisdom if there ever was one. Samari being humiliated could help her develop into a stronger samurai or destroy her and her ties to the Yanata. He had no measure of her personal will to determine if it was the former or the later.

"What would you have me do, my Lord?"

Be her friend. If this is a gamble help me cheat.

The samurai leaned forward and looked at the daimyo with a look of surprise and curiosity. He had the look of being caught off guard, as if he had not expected the man to offer the words he did. Riku attempted to veil his surprise and looked down - contemplative as the task set before him - with his hands in his lap. He turned those same hands face up to inspect his palms, curious if a swordsman's hands could fathom any more than death. He had never thought himself one to have friends but the Yanata seemed to run against the grain of everything he had thought true. They were most unlike other samurai he had met during his life.

"I'll try," he said quietly in reply.

He looked up to Rin'Si and bowed his head to the august lord. He listened to the wisdom and the revelations the man offered him but before he could truly muster a thought for it he saw he was dismissed. With a timid smile the wave-man nodded and rose to his feet. "Hai," he spoke, "I understand. Thank you for your time, my Lord." Riku bowed once more, turned on his heel and took his leave of the lord's chamber. He looked down the hall, in the direction of Samari's chamber, and murmured before he turned the other way to his quarters. He would retire yet be kept awake with his mind on various thoughts.

With time Riku fell asleep.