One of the private dining rooms of the Golden Eagle where Doji Iwao chose to accept guests was large enough to seat a small state dinner, but small enough that the limited number of people present at this particular meal did not make the room appear empty. This particular gathering was small and relatively private, consisting only of Doji Iwao, his wife Doji Kazumi, Daidoji Sakura, her sister Daidoji Kasumi, their ally Bayushi Kenshin, and his wife Bayushi Shinobu.

It was very nearly a gathering of Crane...nearly.

Bayushi Kenshin arrived, his golden mask blending into the shadows. Behind him, escorted by Kenshin, was his wife. They entered and bowed to the assembled.

"Thank you for your kind invitation" he said, helping his wife to find a seat.

It was not long before Daidoji Sakura and her twin arrived.

"Thank you for your kind invitation" Sakura said while they bowed in unison. They took a seat at the table and motioned to one of the servants for tea.

"It seemed appropriate to bring us together in the spirit of the Tournament," Doji Iwao nodded, taking a sip of his tea, "I hear you have begun the Tests quite strongly, Bayushi-san, there are some who favor you for the Champion--though, of course, your training gives you a distinct advantage."

"And you Daidoji-san and Daidoji-san," Doji Kazumi said, "will you be participating in any of the Tests or are you content to simply observe the competitors?"

"I'm confident in the swordplay portions" Kenshin said, "But no so in the others. The disadvantage of pursuing the sword single-mindedly, I'm afraid."

"Perhaps one ..." Kasumi said, sensitive to her sister's inevitable stare of disapproval. They would talk about it later, of course, but not just yet.

Not. Yet.

"... but I would rather let the rest be a surprise."

"I was planning to merely observe" Sakura said with a glance to her sister.

"Oh, I'll be observing" Kasumi replied, "I'll just have a better place to observe from for that one contest than most ..."

Assuming, of course, she didn't face off against Kenshin first round.

"That will be a most interesting contest, which I will be watching with rapt attention," Doji Iwao replies, "do you know which of the other competitors have entered that contest?"

"Only a couple" Kasumi replied with a smirk. "but I'd rather not go into detail ..."