I AM A PLOTTING MONSTER TODAY

Arihitsu's relationships with...

Utani Nobuhisa: Though the daimyo regards the monk as decidedly strange, he appreciates and respects the other's wisdom. He is reluctant to contribute to the monastery, though it is more out of a lack on his own part and a fear that contributions to the temple of a Southlander religion will not go over well with the Erani of his domain than any grudge for the monks themselves or their faith. He corresponds with the abbots, who, in their old age, have turned over many of the diplomatic functions of the monastery to the calligrapher-monk, and so Nobuhisa has grown to know Arihitsu at least on some level. Though they have met on several occasions face-to-face, Nobuhisa harbors secret worry that his policy of distance with the Stone Pearl Monastery will hamper the relations between himself and Arihitsu during the talks ... in spite of the fact that they are both of the same mind. Interactions will be stiff and slightly uncomfortable.
Sakakibara Mitsube: Most of the Erani are reluctant to embrace the faith of the monks at the Monastery of the Stone Pearl, and Mitsube is no exception. He did put forth the effort to learn about it, as part of his personal education mission in the ways of the Joukans, but simply does not find that the tenants jive well with his personal philosophy. He does not know Arihitsu personally, but has heard of him; the monk has similarly heard of the free-spirited Erani warrior and has spent time in his capital, but they have not yet crossed paths. The second-hand each has about the other has lead each man to expect to find the other a faintly pitiable but respectable curiosity - Mitsube does not understand the self-deprivation that Arihitsu has willingly taken up to live as a holy man, and the monk sees perhaps a bit too much of his younger wide-eyed idealist self in the young warrior. As they get to know each other, Mitsube may seek to obtain some of Arihitsu's calligraphy.
Ginga Jiemon: He knows the monk fairly well, as Arihitsu was one of his teachers. Jiemon looked up to him in that regard, however after the death of his father, the young daimyo began to lash out at some of those close to him, including the monk. While he has not as of yet done anything to severely hamper relations between his land and the monastery itself, he has largely shut out Arihitsu recently, painting his reluctance to speak to him as a desire to establish himself as an independent and self-sufficient leader without anyone, not even his childhood instructor, offering advice. Still, he harbors a hidden desperation for some form of guidance, and may seek it out from Arihitsu. The monk in turn largely suspects that Jiemon's forceful independence is a show for his vassals and does wish to aid him, but of course understands the sad necessity of the young man's position.
Matsuzono Buichi: They share a deep trust and understanding, as Arihitsu knows Buichi's secret. He came to the monastery once (quite reluctantly) seeking aid and care after being injured in the wilds of Nanzo. Arihitsu took care of the young samurai and saw to his recovery, and the two formed a strong bond. Buichi maintains unofficial contact with the monk, but has also seen to some small donations to the Monastery. He does begin to feel at odds with Arihitsu's opinion that the island should surrender or seek alliance in order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, however their mutual bond is too strong to allow this difference of opinion to break their quiet but powerful friendship.