This message was deleted by the player at 08:55, Mon 16 June 2008.

It takes little time for Minako to find the Dragon representatives of Toshi Ranbo and she quickly returns.  [Private to Doji Minako: unless you'd like to roleplay that bit, I figured we'd fast foreward and get back to the meat of the investigation ^_^][Private to Kedo: whoops, I should've told you earlier, Kitsuki Fuji, Kitsuki Ryoma, and Mirumoto Yamada are known to you as students of Kitsuki Moritomo--it really is a small, small world ^_^]
"How may we be of service, Daidoji-san," Kitsuki Fuji bows, his eyes flickering briefly in surprise to Kedo, "all of Toshi Ranbo has heard of the Crane's loss and we will serve in what ways we can."

 Who Sakura is replying to is a puzzle to Kedo, who looks up and glances around for a moment at the words, then returns to studying the pot for just a moment, presumably determining in the process that the amount of tea within is correct for one person and a guest - cups after all are obvious, and may be cleaned or taken away... Or even not struck with blood to begin with. They are evidence yes, but evidence is accumulative.

 "Someone who may have been very seriously wounded indeed. It may be of worth to inquire after healers, both spiritual and humble." the Ronin remarks, studying the remainder of the tea-set, trying to determine the rank of the guest from the implements used - for of course, there are as many Ways of tea as there are schools of the blade or of the mind, and much can be gained by one who knows them...

 In this way he does not initially notice the arrival of Kitsuki Fuji until he speaks, prompting the 'Ronin' to start slightly and half-turn to meet the Dragons eyes, whereupon he bows ritually and formally.

 It would seem that the world is a small world indeed.

"Thank you for coming, Kitsuki-San" Sakura replies pleasantly as she returns the bow. She noticed the surprise, however there was nothing but a feint smile to show it.

"Doji Akibieden speaks highly of you and your comrades. Of course I, along with the rest of the Empire, have heard tales of Kitsuki prowess and we seem to be in need of such now."

"Would you and your comrades be willing to assist us in this investigation?"

"Of course, Daidoji-san," Kitsuki Fuji bows, though Kituski Ryoma is already examining the room, "though, as you know, what we discover may not necessarily be admissible in our system of justice.  Kitsuki's Method may provide answers, but not solutions."

"Oi, Fuji-san," Kitsuki Ryoma says from where he is kneeling by the corpse, "I need to check some thing, is there an empty room about this size anywhere near by?  I'll need the ronin and Crane," he says, nodding his head at Kedo and Doji Minako.

"Please forgive Ryoma-kun," Kitsuki Fuji bows, "he's still young and hasn't quite adapted to the niceties of court outside of the Dragon Lands.  He's incomparable, however, when reasoning out the circumstances of a crime.  With your permission?"

[Private to Kedo: whoops, for got about the Tea Ceremony question.  Perception/Tea Ceremony works.  There was definitely tea brewed for two, based on the quantity of tea leaves in the pot and the amount of water remaining.]

 "I would be honoured to assist the noble Magistrate in any fashion that I can, though I am afraid that I may not travel far from my ward." Kedo replies as he rises from studying the tea implements, stroking his chin slightly.

 "Whilst this is discussed however, may I ask if someone better versed in the way of Tea than I myself endeavour to determine the rank and station of the one the victim seemed to be guesting from the choice of implements lain out and used for the ceremony?" he asks softly, trying to make it seem as though this is merely a suggestion to be considered by more courtly-wise minds than his.

"I can try if you wish, although tea ceremony wasn't at my priorities of learning"
Minako starts looking at the scene closer trying to picture in her mind the tea ceremony perfomed before the murder.

09:31, Today: Doji Minako rolled 20 using 4d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls with rolls of 3,4,7,9. Tea/ceremony (awareness)

"Whatever you need" Sakura replied, the hint of a humorous chuckle in her voice. "and think nothing of it. I'm not as unflappable as Kedo-Kun*, but I'm not easy to offend either."

"Minako-San" Sakura said, moving toward the door, "we should return shortly."

She then stopped and looked to the Dragon, awaiting his movement.

[context: endearing, but not romantic. (Romantic would have been "chan"). E.G. a beloved retainer.]

Satoru says nothing as he takes in the murder scene. The arrival of the Kitsuki does not bring him to speak but draws a frown to his features.

After a moment he will clear his throat. "My apologies for taking so long to speak up Sakura-sama. I wished to have my thoughts collected before speaking. I have no skill in the method that our honorable friends in the Dragon excel at. Knowing this and wishing to put myself to best use, perhaps I could speak with those who discovered our Lord?"

"Of course" Sakura replied confidently. She had noticed the frown, however she did not show it ... yet.

"Ah, Daidoji-san," Kitsuki Ryoma says, "I was speaking to Doji Minako.  I need her expertise in iaijutsu to accurately analyze the scenario.  You can come too, if you'd like," he says, almost as an afterthought.

The servants who discovered the body are waiting in an adjacent room for their interrogation.  There are two Daidoji guards with them.

"Ah, Satoru-san," Daidoji Manta says as the monk enters, "these are Takakura and Tsuruno who serve in the Tsume Palace as serving staff.  They were the ones who discovered Doji Kusanagi's corpse."

[Private to Doji Minako: you can tell that both of the participants of the tea ceremony were members of the kuge caste, but nothing else]
OOC:  did that cover everyone?  I've been losing track of stuff lately so I'm checking to make sure I caught everyone's questions and actions.

"Both the participants were of the Kuge caste and knew the procedures of the Tea Ceremony..."

When Kitsuki Ryoma mentions her and her skills in Iaijutsu she startles, never expecting someone not a seasoned duelist, to notice her skills with just a look even though she had her family sword with her.

"Yes Ryoma-san how can I be of service?"

[Private to Kaze no Kage: what kind of roll do you want me to roll, Iaijutsu/awareness?]

"Oh, I see" Sakura said, somewhat surprised at the revelation, "well, if you need Kedo-Kun's help I'm afraid I shall have to as his Honor will not allow him to travel far from my side. But I shall do my best to stay out of your way."

 "My duty." Kedo almost absently corrects as he muses over the scanty details ascertained so far, then pauses for a moment more as he's struck by a few stray thoughts on the links between duty and honour which intertwine them so thoroughly before recollecting himself and bowing to each of the Clan Samurai present and moving to accompany Sakura and Minako, adding "My thanks." to the latter, "I know little of the fine detail of the ceremony as the Crane perform it, but had believed many fine shadings of meaning could be divined from the choice of implement and their cleansing."

Satoru smiled. "You have my thanks, Daidoji-sama.

But, if you do not mind I would like to speak to each individually. So if...
Tsuruno? I believe that was your name, yes? Forgive me I grow older by the day, if Tsuruno could be taken outside, Daidoji-sama, while I speak with... Takakura, yes, Takakura is your name. I would very much appreciate it."

The Monk strolled about the room, appearing it would seem to dotter a bit, a vacant smile traveling across his face.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Tue 24 June 2008.

Kitsuki Ryoma takes Daidoji Sakura, Doji Minako, and Kedo into the other room--a near copy of Doji Kusanagi's room, down to the table.  From various places upon his person he pulls a wide selection of sharp implements--aiguchi, tanto, skewers, and other weapons of various styles--several of each.

"Please choose the weapons with which you are most comfortable, Daidoji-san, Doji-san, Ronin-san," he says, indicating the knives, "and demonstrate the strikes you would make if you were attempting to kill a person sitting across from you."

"Of course, Satoru-san," Daidoji Manta bows, "come Tsuruno."  The servant bows and follows the Daidoji guard from the room, while Takakura watches, his eyes looking nervously from the door to Satoru.

 Kedo inclines his head in agreement to the instructions offered once he's placed in the room in question and studies the implements offered for a few moments, selecting (in due course) an aiguchi (which after a few moments movement in his hand it seems that he's selected for the versatility of grip that the mounting offers) before he turns away and moves to stand beside the table in question, obviously deferring to the other two 'true' Samurai in the room should they wish to make their strikes first, in the meantime cudgelling his brain for what he can recall of The Method.

[I'm the only Daidoji in the room, right? If not, we'll delete this message ...]
Sakura chuckled at the Dragon's request. She then withdrew a scroll from her pouch and displayed it to the investigator.

"That would depend on the whims of the Kami" she finally said, "nothing that I could reproduce I'm afraid. If I had that kind of skill with the blade, I would not have needed to hire Kedo-Kun, ne?"

 "That is rather the point Sakura-san." interjects Kedo softly, indicating himself and the other selected Samurai with one hand, "How would a blow be struck by one who is trained to the blade, untrained to the blade but trained to war, and untrained to both the blade and war?." - for him it's a long explanation, but as ever it has the virtue of clarity.

Minako reached for the last blade. "Well I'm not accustomed to war, I learned Iaijutsu as an art not as a way to kill someone, in fact I've never even sparred with my sword except on Iaijutsu lessons."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:17, Sun 29 June 2008.

"Takakura, I would like you to tell me everything that happened to you, when you discovered our Lord's body. If I am to help solve his murder your testimon will be pivotal so be as honest and clear as you can. Understood?" Satoru kept his voice even almost to the point of friendliness.

Sakura shrugged and approached the table with the various weapons on it.

'Sometimes telling the truth is the best way to lie, Kasumi-Chan.'

The voice of her instructor rang in her ears as she examined the dizzying array of weapons. The truth was that she could use none of them properly, and that was a truth that would serve her well.

Finally Sakura picked up a tanto and moved to a place by the wall. She said nothing, choosing to bow lightly to the Kitsuki instead.

"Certainly, Satoru-sama," Takakura says, relaxing a bit, "Tsuruno and I never served Doji Kusanagi before, but we were told that he takes his midday meal late and shouldn't go to clear his dishes until after everyone else was done.  We went in...and...and...th-there was so-so much b-blood," the servant shudders, tensing up again, "and we screamed.  Then the guards brought us here, asked us what happened, and then we waited until you came in..."

***

"Kedo-san's right," Kitsuki Ryoma replies with a shrug, "our instincts tell us much about ourselves, and if I can tell what instincts our target does not have, I'm that much closer to figuring out who our target is.  Kedo-san, if you will begin?"

"You are not the Lord's usual servants?" Satoru asked with little more pretense.

 "If you prefer, honoured magistrate." replies the Ronin, moving forwards to approach the guest mat, pausing only to study the blade in his hand for a few moments and, with a little thought tuck it through his belt, the handle angled slightly forwards, presenting a ready grip in the event of need.

 He bows to the empty position opposite himself and moves to assume the posture of one entering the ceremony interupted by the murder, sliding through the opening of the ritual and visibly 'grounding' his mind in the slow and elegent movements, though the school of tea to which he subscribes is uncertain at first, small hints of several styles suggesting that he has learned more of the art on his travels than in his home or in the lands of the Crane.

 The attack, when it comes is swift - Kedo's arms are moving through a gesture of centering and come level, whereupon he lunges forwards, legs uncurling as his left hand seizes the knife-grip in a blade-down fashion, his right arm darting in to stay a drawn sword as his left comes up to draw the knife, then tilts to level the blade and thrust it underhand and up in a fashion that would enter below the ribcage of a target seated opposite the guest mat.

 In the process it's revealed that he is fast, agile and plainly a tactical thinker in a fight - but obviously the dagger is a shorter blade than he would favour for the attempt. The parry of the drawing sword however is, for all its utility, mostly an empty-hand technique.