==This piece was drawn in mid-2023. Following my first art commission, my Ko-Fi supporters voted for me to begin uploading art here, including pieces that have been up on FA that I still like. This is one of those pieces.==

Toku Daiki fidgeted. While the Monkey Clan was no stranger to the Iands and estates of the Imperial Families, and while he had the full backing of his daiymo now that he had come of age, his presence was still a distinctly unnatural one. A plainly garbed samurai of a minor clan did not often visit the rich, natural-kept gardens of a high society family. Those that visited a family with the blood of past Emperors, direct from the first Son of Heaven, were often talked in legend.

And he, a remarkably plain-dressed samurai boy, had been arranged to marry the blood of Hantei from a high-ranking part of the Seppun family.

“...Toku-san?”

He shot upright, his face stretching instinctively into his expression upon encountering a dangerous, stressful situation. How lucky for him that was a confident smile. “Ah! Seppun-san!” he greeted, bowing to the lizard girl in rich jewelry and fine garb. “Thank you for honoring me with this walk.”

The lizard smiled ever so slightly. “We are arranged to be wed someday,” she pointed out. “You need not thank me for your company. In fact, it is pleasing to me you spend your time getting to know me at all.”

Daiki blushed, straightening up at that wise point of rhetoric. “Ha! Right, of course.” He considered for a moment, then bowed his head. “...if that is the case, Seppun-san, may I be bold enough to suggest we, in this walk of privacy, use our given names?”

“...you may.”

“Then…may I be bold to call you Miyumi-chan?”

The lizard could have easily found offense in such. She did not, blushing instead. “Only if I may call you Daiki-kun.”

“This sounds…like an amenable arrangement,” he cautiously worded, blushing himself and bowing fully once more. His betrothed bowed in return.

Of all the things Daiki had developed his skills in, the only one at which he had excelled was etiquette. In truth, it had been the only one he’d been able to fully give his attention to. How could he not, knowing what had been arranged for him mere months upon entering his family’s dojo? When his parents helped save the life of a Seppun and—by extension—helped quietly and for little glory helped to ensure the Emperor’s safety, how could he have known it would lead to the privilege of arranging marriage between their lines, placing the maintenance of that honor on his head? So, of course…he had to learn, at the very least, not to make a fool of himself being the husband of a Seppun courtier.

As they spoke amid the gardens, Miyuki made it clear why she thought she’d been arranged to be the daughter to marry the son of their father’s saviors. The Seppun were protectors of the Emperor’s life, bushi and shugenja both. She had little promise with a weapon and no potential with the kami, but plenty of promise with grace and speech. It was not dishonorable a path, being a courtier, but it was…disappointing to such a traditional family.

“I apologize for you to be given the leftovers, so to say, Daiki-kun,” she said, a little sadness in her eyes.

Immediately, he stopped in his tracks. Sure, he didn’t know if he loved this girl he’d essentially just met, but he would have done the same for anyone with that look. “H-hey!” he protested, placing himself boldly in her path, “that’s not…”

“It is fine. I will bring my family honor in my own way, even if I cannot follow in their traditions,” she said. “Marrying you to satisfy this great debt is a proud path too.”

The red panda chewed his lip as he thought. Then, he nodded, straightened himself, and began to walk alongside once more. “...I understand, Seppun-san,” he announced with full formality.

That caused Miyuki to stop this time. “...did I offend you?” she asked quietly. “I had thought we agreed to, amid my family’s gardens, call each other as future husband and wife?”

“No, you’ve caused me no offense at all, Seppun-san. Only honor,” he responded with confidence, chest puffed up as if channeling the energy of a proud and experienced warrior. “...but you have caused yourself offense, and I will not stand such slander against my future wife.”

She paused, head tilted in momentary confusion. “It is no slander if it is truth, Daiki-kun. Especially one to which I have long accepted.”

“...with utmost respect, I disagree,” he huffed, smiling through the uncertainty. “You have set yourself apart from your honorable family as something lesser, as if you must regain their trust for not bearing the path they often take. Did they tell you this? Did the ancestors? If not, then you offend yourself. And if I must address you with the full respect you deserve, the family name you truly and wholly bear, then I will, Seppun-san. For I, like my parents, will lay my life down to protect your family, just as we would for Rokugan itself.”

Miyuki studied the red panda boy. He had confidence in his words, but behind his smile and bluster there was a clear anxiety and lack of experience. And yet, against all odds…despite his lack of training, experience, or even ability…she found herself smiling too.

“...you honor me greatly, and I submit to your earnest wisdom,” she said with a bow, a deeper one than she’d given him thus far. “I am Seppun Miyuki, and you have been given a great honor marrying me and my proud family. But…you are worthy of such an honor, and I will place my life in your hands, Toku-san. I trust you as I would one of my family’s own bushi.”

His success wasn’t humbly passed over. No, he beamed with pride at such words. Then, the awkwardness sunk in…the red panda might’ve been trained in etiquette, but conversation? That wasn’t part of the lessons. But emboldened, he let his personality drive.

“You, uh…want to see my kenjutsu?”

The awkward choice made the lizard smile just a little more. “...would you?”

And without hesitation, Daiki drew his blade for her, sliding forwards into a wild but defensive posture, blade held high and across his own body. It was a far cry from the styles taught by her family’s dojos, but…perhaps it wouldn’t be all bad.

Something about him told her he’d defy all odds for her, and maybe that was enough. At least the smiles might be worth it.
______________________________________________________________________

I had a cursory glance at Legend of the Five Rings (4th Edition) a long time ago. Well, a friend mentioned possibly planning a campaign, so I started reading the books. What hit me, like a flood, was a rare case of deep inspiration. Character after character flooded my mind, and, sure, while I have no idea if my interpretations will be possible, correct, or in-line with the canon or my friend's design...I didn't have many avenues to vent my hyperfixation. And, well, I did say I needed to draw spontaneously more, especially if I'm to improve...so...two birds, one stone!

The character:
Toku Daiki is a character that slowly formed in my head while getting to talk with Ojikori about inspirations in the system. Of the schools I adored but had not built around yet, the Monkey Clan's seemed the most promising for an amusing conceit: a character that is both unlucky and lucky, a character with obscene variations in his rolls and will fail simple checks just as often as succeeding at obscenely difficult ones. And, just to make him even more volatile, I pumped him up with some of the grandest status-granting possibilities...including an imperial spouse. Starting at 2.5 status when most characters start at 1? Amazing. He's a bit of a down-to-earth bushi, so a lot of higher matters will sail over his head, and he's got more than a few problematic flaws. ...but maybe he'll surprise you! That surprise is the whole point of this cute boy. x3

The art:
This was my one last attempt at bringing together everything I learned from before. I think I did great! I've set aside L5R character concepts for now and moved on, and I've already proven (with a Hoshi picture I'll show later) that I'm noooot quite to where I can provide this level of quality consistently. But...this is my new goal mark for pictures I make. I really hope I can translate these into Sixen Comic when I next get to it. :love:

Art and Daiki aka Dana (c)  MavenTreecat

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