Having been a recent arrival to bolster the defenses, Kanisai kept quiet to take in gauge how prepared the others really were.  Once the city lord gave them leave, he bowed to his new first.  "I may not have introduced myself earlier," he said to Aki at once.  "I am Doji Kanisai.  I await your orders for the South Wall's defense."

I am honored to have so many great warriors at my disposal. Your skills will be much appreciated in the coming days. As I said too Kumi-san We will need to call a meeting with the other gunso in my company and discuss all of our options. The southern wall has both the main gate and the entrance to the path of the elements. We have been given a great honor and a daunting task.

Sakura turned to Tsukiko and spoke in a formal, but respectful tone. "We cannot order Imperials, however it would be best if they would comply with Lord Kasarugi's wishes. And there will probably be matters of honor involved."

"I leave this matter entirely in your hands. You may have whatever resources you feel that you need. I need to speak to Kasarugi-Dono ASAP, but it will only take a moment. If you need something from me I will return momentarily and we can speak of it then."

[Sakura will wait long enough for a short reply before.]

Sakura respectfully acknowledged Akibieden, giving him a clear indication that she would return shortly. Sakura then approached Doji Kasarugi, the humility clear in her countenance.

"Shitsurei Itashimasta ...*"

"My apologies to both yourself and Commander Ryu. I failed to make it clear that I was asking on my own behalf. If ..."

"If the duties that Kuwanan-Dono gives me lead me outside the walls, I would prefer to not need to burden you with the details. He is the senior Daidoji, so I cannot burden his honor with ... 'unusual requests'."

She then bowed deeply.

"Gomen Kudasai."

She then waited for his reply. Or her seppuku. Which ever came first.

[1) If I understand it correctly, this is a very polite "Excuse me"/"I'm sooo sorry!" (for my previous rudeness). I could be wrong though ...
2) A humble request for forgiveness. (Once again, assuming I got it right ... )
]

 Kedo of course cannot hear the discussion to know that he has been mentioned, nor can he express his misgivings regarding trying to turn a force of peasants into sufficiently skilled Ashigaru in order to employ them in a battle of maneuver against the forces of the Lion without a great deal of time on hand.

 So he simply gazes into the painting, trying to feel the brush-strokes in his mind's eye as readily as he can perceive the strikes of the smith's hammer upon the steel that hangs at a Samaurai's waist.

Daidoji Ryu glowers silently, pointedly looking away from Doji Kasarugi.  "Do not overly concern yourself, Daidoji Sakura-san," Kasarugi replies softly, "It is a...sore point...the last words spoken between Daidoji Ryu and Doji Kusanagi were words of anger over that very issue..." he trails off, clearly unwilling to say more, "gather you squad.  I fear you have much work ahead of you."

"Kedo-san," Daidoji Tomoe says quietly to the ronin in passing, "if you are afforded the opportunity, come to the Artisan district during the hour of Togashi."

"The Honor of the Doji often clashes with the Duty of the Daidoji" Sakura replied with a bow, "had the Crane's need not been so great during the War, I would have been reviled instead of honored. Yet it is those same traits that sent me here, something that Kuwanan-Dono did not do lightly. Though he did not tell me so, I suspect that this means that our need here is equally great."

"If you'll pardon me ..."

With Kasarugi's permission*, Sakura returned to the others. Sakura looked around at her erstwhile team.

"We have much to do. Tsukiko-San, I would like you to examine the crime scene whenever you can. Satoru-San, you are welcome to come with us if you wish. I would welcome your advice, but only you can know where you must go.""

"Akibieden-San, I am grateful for your offer -- you and Tsukiko can help me with a very important matter."

"Well" Sakura continued with a chuckle, looking around at her team, <Blue>"I suspect that Kedo-Kun and myself are the only ones on the team that do not know that answers to my question. Do you know of any Samurai from other clans with investigation or magisterial experience that you believe would be useful? I thought I saw a Tsuruchi earlier, and it's possible that the Dragon have one among them trained in the Kitsuki method."

"Since I am new to the city, someone will have to show me where the deceased commander's quarters are."

Sakura did not know who was here recently, as only three arrived today in the party sent by Doji Kuwanan. Daidoji Sakura patiently awaited replies from the others.

 Consciousness flows back into Kedos eyes as his mind navigates back from a world encompassed by the strokes of an ink-pen in order to parse the Sensei's words and he turns smoothly to offer a small bow. "I shall endeavour to do so, if it is possible to meet the appointment without unduly disrupting my ward's schedule." he answers with no more than a casual glance down the hall towards Daidoji Sakura, as though assuring himself that she's not managed to explode in the short time the meeting has stretched across.

Doji Minako entered the city gates of Toshi Ranbo after showing her papers to the local guards. She walked idly down to the main street unsure about where should she go. It seemed to her that she shouldn't be focusing at her studies more than actually living in the world that she has learned about, from all those scrolls back at the Kyuden Asako.

"Doji Akibieden-sama, I will accompany Daidoji Sakura-sama, if you permit it. The riddle of this murder weighs heavily on my mind." Satoru says with a bow to both. He awaits Akibieden's answer, his face a mask of emotions.

Your wisdom is your greatest asset satoru-san. Certainly it would be best afforded to Sakura-san at this time. I would also like to be kept informed as to the progress of the investigation so perhaps you can act as my eyes and ears in that regard.
Then to Sakura-san, "Tsuruchi Hidemoto or Tsuruchi Koizumi of the mantice may be of use to you Sakura-san. As for the dragon, Kitsuki Ryoma and his associates are honorable men."

Satoru bows but says nothing more.

"I have business with in the city that requires my attention, If I am not further required I honorably request that I may go do it." Kumi says with a bow

There is a small commotion in the back of the room as one of the doors opens.  An ashigaru enters surreptitiously and whispers something to one of the Daidoji guards before slipping back out and ushering a young woman wearing the colors of the Crane and a mon displaying a crane and phoenix together into the room.  The Daidoji escorts her to Doji Kasarugi.

"This is Doji Minako, Doji Kasarugi-sama," the Daidoji bows, "a guest of the Phoenix, newly arrived in Toshi Ranbo."

Satoru watches the new guest passively, 'guest of the Phoenix' had many implications, but none to be alarmed about. Still she presented another piece to an already crowded puzzle.

Sakura nodded to Akibieden's suggestions. "As soon as we have had a chance to investigate we shall enlist their aide. I thank you for your assistance."

Sakura was momentarily distracted by newly arrived "guest of the Phoenix". Heraldry was not her forte', but Sakura looked over the new arrival closely anyway.

'Please don't be an Ishi ...'

[Sakura/Kasumi's two worst nightmares -- in order: Ishi and Kitsuki. But, Duty calls ...

Sakura will spend a Void to gain a temporary rank in Heraldry if she has to ...]

Doji Minako walks slowly a few steps forward and bows deeply.
"It is an honor meeting you Doji-sama, I hope I can be of service."

[Private to GM: Rolls a courtier roll to discern Sakura's feelings with her Empathy

14:04, Today: Doji Minako rolled 44 using 7d10 with rolls of 4,10,10,8,2,7,3. Empathy
14:06, Today: Doji Minako rolled 6 using 2d10 with rolls of 5,1. exploding dice.
Total roll 39=7k3+5]

As she bowed her eyes at the other persons in the room and fixed for a while at Daidoji Sakura as if reading her, before turning her gaze at Doji Kasarugi's feet.

[Private to Daidoji Sakura: You never know!!  :D]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:08, Tue 03 June 2008.

 The small commotion lifts Kedos eyes as well, drawing his attention from his companion for a moment as he assures himself that all is well and no harm is about to befall anyone before returning his soft-voiced conversation and contemplation as he waits for the chance to be of use once more.

"As the Dragon say, Doji Minako-san," Doji Kasarugi bows, "these are interesting times.  The Lion wait at our doorstep for any sign of weakness prepared to strike and the commander of our forces here in Toshi Ranbo has been murdered.  A less auspicious beginning to Winter Court would be difficult to imagine, but the Crane have endured worse.  I know that you are newly arrived to our fair city and I wish that I could offer you the time you need to get settled, but the Crane have need of your services.  The broad base of knowledge that you have gained amongst our Phoenix cousins will serve the Crane best in the investigation of Doji Kusanagi's untimely demise, so I have assigned you to serve under Daidoji Sakura for the time being."

As Doji Kasarugi reviews the situation for the new arrival, an elderly Crane in the colors of the Kakita approaches Doji Akibieden, at his side is Kakita Tsutomu--the former ronin who was sparring with Kedo earlier today.

"Chui-dono," he bows, "I am Kakita Asakura, formerly in command of the Southern Kaisha.  I know that you have much to accomplish and it is my hope that I may have some knowledge that you might find useful."

[Private to Doji Minako: you feel Daidoji Sakura is concerned, not with the Phoenix Ishiken themselves, but with what they might discover]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:23, Tue 03 June 2008.

"Thank you, I shall do my best Doji-sama" she bowed again and stepped back placing her self next to Daidoji Sakura.

"I am honored to have your assistance Kakita-sama. As soon as This meeting is concluded I wish to call a meeting with all the officers in my command and formulate a defencive strategy. I would be honored If you would attend. If you wish we can speak in private before the men have gathered." I say with a deep bow.

Sakura looked to Minako as the latter stood by the former.

"I must inquire -- what is the nature of your training?"

[I still need to hear from Daidoji Tsukiko before I can move on. Apparently  Kakita Zenko is no longer with us?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:57, Thu 05 June 2008.

Minako smiled gently and added "I'm a courtier and librarian, trained by the Asako and you Sakura-san must be a Shugenja, am I right"

"You are correct" Sakura replied.

 As the situation unfolds it seems less and less likely that Doji Akibieden will get his way and have the services of Kedo on-hand to provide an eyewitness account of the forces lingering outside the city, as it's quite obvious that Daidoji Sakura will be involved in investigating the dire murder - a task that will assuredly see her Ronin 'yojimbo' no further from her side than he is at this minute until it's completed (and probably a great deal closer, since he's still standing politely out of earshot, waiting for the discussion between honourable samurai to finish so that he can rejoin his charge).

"so Sakura-san, how can I be of service... should we head on to the crime scene to investigate?"