Doji Sotan sits peaceably in his office catching up on his correspondences.  There had been quite a bit of commotion recently:  the arrival of Doji Kuwanan's special operatives along with the Imperial Shisha, the murder of Doji Kusanagi, and the impending Lion siege; but Sotan kept the calm that he had learned in the mountains of the Dragon.

Abruptly, there was a sharp tapping on his screen, though he was not expecting any visitors.

Doji Sotan stands to greet the apparent visitor. He pauses for only a few seconds.

"Enter." he says calmly.

Your shoji slides open and Kitsuki Fuji, representative of the Dragon Clan in Toshi Ranbo, bows impeccably--despite his disheveled queue and badly slashed kimono.  Behind him, his aide, Kitsuki Ryoma, and his yojimbo, Mirumoto Yamada, wait watchfully, hands on their weapons--they also appear rather...disheveled.  Only then do you notice a small boy peeking out from behind Fuji's hakama.

"Our apologies for our unkempt appearance and failing to make an appointment, Doji Sotan-san," Kitsuki Fuji says, as he rises, "we have some information relevant to Daidoji Sakura's investigation into Doji Kusanagi's unfortunate death.  If we may bring these troubles to your attention?"

Doji Sotan returns the bow and listens in silence. He smiles slightly at the young boy, but only for a single second. He looks back at the man speaking before anyone has a chance to notice the slight shift in his focus.

"Do not worry about your appearance here Kitsuki-san." he says, "Enter, and tell me this news you have."

"Please excuse our armed state, Doji-san," Fuji bows, entering carefully, his two associates following close behind, "we encountered some...resistance to our presence and would very much prefer that we were alive to deliver our report."

"This is Akira," the Dragon Courtier says, gently pushing the young boy forward, "Akira-kun, please tell Doji Sotan-san what you told us."

"I-I-I was c-c-carrying messages for Heikichi-san," Akira stutters, "a-a-and I w-w-was passing by Doji Kusanagi-sama's r-r-rooms and I saw Daidoji R-r-ryu-sama coming out c-c-covered i-in b-b-blood..."

OOC:  Daidoji Ryu is the commander of the Daidoji Irregulars (read:  Harriers) in Toshi Ranbo, and was recently named the supreme commander of the armies of Toshi Ranbo after Kusanagi's death.

BTW, the Harriers are a semi-secret organization; cannon is inconsistent on that point so I decided that more secret was better ^_^

"This is very troubling news, I should go and look into this right away. Akira-san your bravery awes even I. Kitsuki-san, thank you for alerting me to what may be a traitor among my Clan. Your services will never be forgotten." he says.

Doji Sotan looks around his room a bit.

"Did you recognize any of those who attacked you on your way here?" he asks.

"We were a bit more concerned about staying alive than taking names," Mirumoto Yamada rumbles irritably.

"My apologies for Yamada's ire, Doji-san," Kitsuki Fuji bows, "ambushes discommode his sense of etiquette.  Ryoma-san, report."

"They struck with thrown weapons first--but not the stylized blades favored by 'ninja'--they used the terrain of the halls to their advantage--proof that they were familiar with the territory--far more than they used the shadows to conceal themselves--also a departure from the 'ninja' mythos," Kitsuki Ryoma reports, "though they concealed their faces, their fighting style was far more suited to the battlefield than an assassination.  During the Clan War, we encountered such elements within the armies of the Crane Clan wearing the mon of the Daidoji.  Members or former members of the Crane Clan are the most likely possibility, though I am certain that further research may uncover more suspects."

"I thank you for your assistance and your faith in me. I will look into these matters and put a stop to this corruption. Be safe my friends!" he says.

He grabs his kama and tucks one into either side of his obi. He is wearing hakama and a short kimono rather than a dress kimono. He bows to the men once again.

"You may stay in my office for as long as it might take you to tend any wounds you might have." he says softly.

The halls of Toshi Ranbo bustle with activity as peasants, heimin, eta, and samurai alike prepare for the beginning of Winter Court and the impending Lion invasion, but you encounter at an unlikely duo proceeding towards your destination.  It is Satoru--a monk, formerly of the Doji family, who retired from active service after he lost his arm in the Clan War--and Bayushi Kenshin--a young Scorpion, fostered to the Kakita after the failed Scorpion Clan Coup, who has made quite a name for himself for honorable dealings and a swift blade.

OOC:  please post in Chapter 6 - Loose Threads