"MEMOIRS OF AN OPIUM EATER": Twentieth Year in the Reign of Hantei XXXVIII, Nineteenth Day, Month of the Tiger
Today I went on the hunt I mentioned with Asamitsu, his brother Michikane and Shosuro Kimi (P3). Both Kimi and I were of course no match for the brothers when it came to riding, so at one point we found ourselves riding alone as the two men pursued a fox.
"I am glad Asamitsu asked you along," Kimi said. "The last time I went hunting with them I was also left behind, but had no company at all."
"It gladdens my heart to hear it."
We rode through the woods in companionable silence for a while before Kimi asked "What do you think of Asamitsu?"
"He seems to be a fine man," I said.
Behind her butterfly mask, her eyelids fluttered.
"Do you think his father may be considering you as his wife?" she asked, with a coy smile.
''I'm sure I don't know," I said. "My, what a blunt question! I thought you Scorpions were supposed to be subtle."
"There are many, many people in the Scorpion clan, and not all of us are alike. Besides, soon I will be in the Unicorn clan, and they are not subtle at all. I'm just practicing."
We laughed. "Is this your plot, then?" I asked. "You're trying to arrange a sister in law who's to your liking?" She just smiled a little.
"Asamitsu has many fine qualities," I said at last. "He gives every appearance of being honorable, serious, a dutiful son..."
"Yes," she said. "He is all those things. And do not forget thoughtful, like his mother (P18). Gentle and kind as well - in that he takes after his father (P14)."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were going to wed the wrong brother!"
When I said that, she laughed and laughed.