"Did you bring Misaki with you?" She looked at the door behind Kiku and smiled. "In my vision, murder and terrorism aren't essentially evil." She looked back at Kiku
"It is the intention behind them that gives it their value. Who decides what good and evil is? They are simply constructs that people use to justify their action. It all depends on what side you are on. I have killed to advance the needs of the Chrysanthemums. In GC eyes, this makes me honored. In the the eyes of the puppets, it makes me a murderer, a criminal or worse.
You might know this:
Great change always leaves bloody footprints
and our goals will be no different.
Villains to some, saviours to others.
It depends on what side your are on.
Who pulls your strings, or who has cut them."
Aya took up her cup and took a sip while looking at Kiku, enjoying the sharp mind of the young priestess
Kiku was surprised by sudden move and introduction of one poem of Lady Matsuda, she wanted to strike, but her most and couldn't produce any counter. "Not exactly, my sister is present. She always accompanies me on such unknown journeys." Kiku closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "This was a great move bringing the ace card in form of poem to the table, Lady. I would even dare to say it makes me speechless. This thing doesn't happen that much,
you've got my respect." Kiku said in polite manner, but kept her eyes closed, trying to figure out her next step. "I've got another question however. Have you thought about consequences of the murder? I will try to explain this question. If you go out and encounter the police patrol and you slaughter them, we celebrate victory. But have you thought that each kill brings more wrath upon us? Because families suffer and blame the killer despite standing on the wrong side of the coin. Isn't it countering one of your goals, because if more people turn against us, lower the chance to establish Matriarchy is?'
"This is the age old topic of 'an eye for an eye'. There is no real right answer to it. It all started with Matsuda. Her death brought forth violent retaliations that afterwards formed into our Golden Chrysanthemum Sisterhood. You could say it is both a force of creation and destruction. Make no mistake, if we threw down our weapons we would be slaughtered, imprisoned, or worse. We are fighting a war for our freedom and to create the world Matsuda envisioned. Matsuda was the first to open our eyes and we shall not forsake her dream.
"This the reason I am not in the field, because I don't really understand how it works. Unlike my sister. Well I believe I've got all the answers needed at this time. I hope so." Kiku said and opened her eyes again, directly stating at Aya. "I will try to keep morale high and number of rituals also. That's all I can do for now, I believe. Unless there is something else, some task you would like to pass on me. Is there any?"
"You are a good person Kiku-san. I would not even want to see you in the field. You are a flower that should bloom in a temple, not on the battlefield. Why do you not introduce me to your sister? It would be rude to leave her standing there, ne?" The matriarch told the woman in the grey kimono to bring another cup and to refill them.
These words caught Kiku off guard, introducing her sister to Matriarch is something she hasn't expected, at all. "I-I will have to warn you beforehand, Lady. She respects authority and she follows orders and rules in good faith and she is willing to sacrifice herself for anything, however she isn't one of these most polite people in the universe. Something I cannot really blame her for, our father was also like that and I owe her a lot. You cannot even imagine." Kiku said in quiet tone, the she sighed and looked at the door, before she got up and walked to the entrance.
She opened the door and found her sister leaning against the wall, chewing bubblegum and staring at the little hole on the ceiling. 'Darn, I hate these imperfections... Can't they fix it?" Yoshigahara had said before she noticed Kiku standing at the entrance. "So, kid. Everything alright? Or am I supposed to wait a little more? Hm" Yoshi crossed her arms. Kiku sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Amaterasu, I beg you... Give me strength to survive this interaction... No... You were also summoned, sister. But please, act like an adult with a little bit of politeness... Will you?" Yoshigahara replied with a simple smirk and began walking towards Kiku, gave few pats on her shoulders and walked into room, followed by Kiku. When they both arrived to the table, Kiku sat down back on her spot and Yoshi between Kiku and Aya. "So, kon'nichiwa stranger who summoned my sister and then me. Who are you?" Said Yoshi before Kiku could say a word. The priestess just sighed and face palmed herself.
The Matriarch bowed slightly for her. "Hajimemashita, Yoshigahara-san. I am the leader of the Chrysanthemums, Matriarch Ishikawa Aya, to the outside world known as Kiri. I had a little discussion with your sister about faith, people and the Sisterhood. She has an inquisitive mind and the courage to not back down when her views are challenged. She told me you are a warrior, willing to sacrifice her life for others. She also told me you always accompany her on unknown ventures. The fact that you display such care for your sister shows that you are of good character. I just thought you should be invited to sit with us instead of standing waiting out there."
The woman returned, place the new up infront of Yoshi and refilled are 3 with fresh cha.
Yoshigahara just raised her right brow and leaned forward, smirk appeared shortly after on her face. "Everyone could have said that. Even we might be pretending we are who we aren't. Is there any way to prove it?" Yoshi had leaned back while crossing her arms, still staring at Aya. Kiku just couldn't believe her eyes and ears. She wanted just ONE damn thing, but why would she even be trying to change stubborn like her sister. "Can't you just once... Once listen to my advises? Who else would that be??" Kiku asked her sister, however Yoshi didn't really care that much. She was focused on the game with woman on her side "And how do you know she is the Matriarch? Is it just because she said it, or am I mistaken and you've hot proof she is who she claims to be?" Yoshi said, her eyes still watching Aya. "I am not going to ask everyone to prove their identity, beside I doubt you could speak with the Lady on such a high level like I did?" Kiku finished these words with a frown. "You know well, I don't really care about words, but about actions. So -Lady- is there any ace in your sleeve you can pull out now?" Yoshi couldn't just sit, so she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table..
The Matriarch stood up and walked towards the tokonoma. Ofcourse I can. Lets continue this discourse in the language you understand. The language of steel. She picked up one of the swords and threw it at Yoshigahara. She unsheated the other and took a defensive stance.
Show me if you are the warrior your sister claims you to be.
Yoshigahara had to grin at something like that. It's something she began liking about this woman. "Is that a challenge now?" Yoshi grabbed the sword but left it hidden. "Uhhh, can't we just solve it in peace like normal people do??" Kiku asked them, just staring at this theatre in front of her. "You know well violence is my kind of the language and not the talk. Do you?" Yoshi said, her eyes were scanning Aya. She remained in straight position, keeping hidden sword behind her as her side was exposed to Aya. Still she hadn't unscheated her sword. "So, Lady. It's your turn, hm?" Yoshi was confident, her father taught her well and even during his service to Kusari, she kept mastering her skills every single day. She had yet another challenge in front of her to win.