A Snippet of Atsuko's Journal

Entry 1 (Written 9/20/2012) - Ascension

Lord Yoshimoto has fallen. Not to illness or at the hands of another, but rather as a victim of his own passion. The now late Daimyo of the Suruga Province, Lord Yoshimoto Imagawa, was renowned throughout all of Ransei for his passion, though not necessarily his skill, for the game of Pokemari. However, it was this very passion for kemari that allowed for the river Yomi to claim his life when an exceptionally sizable Pineco descended, from a tree, off his bodyguard, and finally upon Lord Yoshimoto in what proved to be a fatal collision.

Since his passing, the heads of House Koketsuna, Lord Akihiko and Lady Sakura, have both invested themselves heavily in the relevant proceedings. While Lord Akihiko slaved endlessly over preparations for the late Lord Yoshimoto’s funeral, Lady Sakura’s involvement was more directed towards... “discussing” who the successor to Lord Yoshimoto would be. Wholly devoted to Pokemari, Lord Yoshimoto had room for little else in his life, let alone the companionship of another woman... Or man. Our Lord was fairly eccentric as was, so it wouldn’t have come to me as a surprise if his interests lay as such. But I’m making a digression. Without a son to inherit the throne, problems were certain to arise. I’m uncertain as to what Lady Sakura had done during her discussions, and with her tendency at Lord Akihiko’s banquets to thrust herself upon any men of greater status than him in an attempt to conceive their child and further her own domain of influence, I think it best that I never find out... But whatever tactics she had employed seemed to have proven highly effective, as come time for the final discussion, the one which all the nobility of Suruga Province came to attend, only two other families amongst them seemed to hold any interest in becoming the land’s next Daimyo.

It was during this meeting that my elder sister, Hitomi, and I were introduced to the men and women who would become my retainers. The first to make their presence known to me... As well as all others attending, as his voice not only demanded attention, it was loud to the point where ignoring it was impossible, was Norio Daichi. Norio was loud, spirited, and highly animated... Especially so for a sword. He was wielded by a young woman, his daughter, Kokoro. Kokoro seemed to be quite well-versed in speech; I believe I’d take great pleasure in conversing with them both over a meal at some point... Though I suppose doing so would be rather unfair to Norio. I wonder if whetting his blade would serve the same role as feeding a person... I supposed I’ll simply have to ask, though I fear I may come off as insensitive.

This outburst was hardly before any matter of importance was brought to the table, at which point Lord Yadoyama took charge of the disucssion. Lord Yadoyama is... Special, I’ll concede, though even as a Pokemon, at the age of two hundred and fifty, and with a massive Shellder clamped down upon his skull, I can’t help but wonder if “lifetime appointments” are the most efficient way of running a nation. His assistant, Hiramasa Seikanji, a dashing, young gentleman whose tongue was sharper than even Norio’s edge, thankfully, was far more on top of things than Lord Yadoyama was... Though unfortunately nowhere near as helpful as he was aware.

Though all present had to endure the misfortune, Hitomi and I especially had to suffer for the presence of Lady Sakura, our anything-but-moral support. In all honesty, her outbursts were completely embarrassing, and only deepened the shame I have in admitting that she is our mother. Her presence served only to unsettle me, as her constant nagging into my ear served no purpose but to distract us from the matter at hand, and I was far from in an ideal state of mind. Lost in my own thoughts, many of which were pondering whether or not it’d be acceptable to request her removal from the meeting, by the time I was remotely near the point of having regained my composure, the means through which the next Daimyo would be appointed were already decided. That person being the one who endured the longest in a battle of wits. Ordinarily, I would hold no protest to such a proposal, especially since the alternative, suggested minutes before, was a repetition of the very sport which claimed the life of Lord Yoshimoto... And my own thoughts were in accord with Hiramasa that to indulge in such folly and endanger our prospective new Daimyos would be reckless. However, Lord Yadoyama’s concept of “wit” amounted to little more than genital jokes. (In truth, they were rather amusing, though hardly befitting the situation.)