"I have several ideas, Kasarugi-Dono*" Sakura replied demurely. "The most direct -- and probably most dangerous -- would be for Kedo-Kun and myself to visit Ryu-Sama. We could quickly determine if he was infected; if not, he may be persuaded to listen to reason. Perhaps even answer a few questions."

"My other ideas are ... 'half-baked' at the moment, and not worthy of presentation. I need to visit the Asahina libraries ... and meditate on the situation a bit more."

She then looked to the others present once again.

[Dono -- "Lord". Sakura's track record in this adventure is pretty bad, and she knows it. She's hoping someone picked up on something obvious that she missed ...]

[Private to Kaze no Kage; Kitsuki Toshirou: Re: the 'half-baked' comment -- a rough translation: "Don't ask about my other ideas, you wouldn't like them and I'd hate to lie to you anyway ..." Her honor is a flat 0.0; she's talking about something dishonorable, and most likely illegal. You know, something like "Good night, sleep well. I'll most likely kill him in the morning ..." (Wesley, "Princess Bride", with my apologies to the author). I'll let you two decide if Toshirou picks up on that, but I would personally expect it.]

Banteki's eyes are fairly well bulging out of their sockets at this point- half from incredulity, half from discomfort. How angry Keiyoko-chan will be, he thinks, if I should die of a ruptured bowel before the Governor.
He listens to the tangled web of intrigue the samurai spin, until the urgency of his conditions forces him to speak.
"This Daidoji Ryu-sama... does he care for drink?" His eyes are as plaintive and hopeful as those of a child on the day before the Festival of Hotei.

Sakura chuckled.

"I like the way you think ..."

"And do your 'half-baked' ideas include a solution to the Lion army soon to be laying siege to our walls, Daidoji-san?" Doji Kasarugi asks, "I am expecting a readiness report from Taisa Yasuki Daisetsu soon and I've heard a report from Daidoji Kumi regarding Kedo-san's...unconventional battle plan, but I am unconvinced that we will be able to hold off the Lion without additional forces at our disposal."

"I have approached the Scorpion, Kasarugi-Dono" Sakura replied with a hint of embarrassment, "and they have promised us a reply shortly. Sadly, my task from Lord Kuwanan did not go further than this ... his concern was about what the Scorpion Clan may do, and his time short."

"I am certain, however, that we could approach a few of the other clans as well, though I am not the one best suited to do so ..."

[Private to Kaze no Kage; Kitsuki Toshirou: This is 100% true -- Doji Kuwanan brought it up and Sakura took advantage of it ...]

Kenshin's wound had slowed him down a bit, however he was not one to shirk his duty. As he approached the Governor's mansion, he went over the etiquette in his mind. This was not his specialty, but he would do it well.

Or try at any rate.

"Sumimasen ..." he said to the guards, "would you please tell the Governor that Bayushi Kenshin is here to see him on behalf of the Scorpion Clan ...?"

"How...convenient," Doji Kasarugi says, looking hard at Daidoji Sakura when word of Bayushi Kenshin's arrival is brought to him, "very well, let him in, let's hear his proposal."

Kenshin had paused earlier only long enough to change his Kimono and ensure that he was presentable. While he waited he arranged himself a bit better, ensuring that he would not embarrass his Lady nor his Clan. When word came that the governor would see him, he turned his blade over to the guards and entered.

He noticed that there was a rather large group with the Governor, and while he was no expert they didn't look like they were having a good time.

"Lord Kasarugi" he said with an appropriately deep bow, "guests of the City's Lord ..."

"I see that you are busy with important city business, so I shan't waste your time. I come with an offer of military aide against the Lion that will shortly come to our Fair City."

His mask, with the character of Honor artistically etched into it, and the Mon of the Kakita Dueling Academy -- the most prestigious dueling school in the Empire -- over his right shoulder made for an odd contrast with the typical trappings of the Scorpion Clan.

It was no accident that the Scorpion had chosen this Honest Scorpion to carry their offer.

"Well that seems quite timely," Kasarugi replies politely, still looking hard at Daidoji Sakura, "and what do the Scorpion ask for such aid?"

Ru-Fang, having seperated from the others when they took away 'his' prisoner earlier, had eventually made his way into the manor. He'd needed some time to regain his composure, clearly not used to dealing with bloody battles. He was a man with a silver tongue, a nose for gold and was quick to haggle. What could blade and bow deal with that cooperation and comprimise between honorable men could not?

It seemed much like his lack of sensability when it came to the finer distinctions of social classes, he was also quite naive when it came to the lying darkness. Yet another oddity to this strange, outlandish traveler from the 'East'. The later seemed to have come into play once he was inside the manor, for instead of daring to disturb the audience in session, he'd once again taken to chatting up a pretty young servant girl.

"How could you have never seen the sea?" he teases her softly, "Why, one cannot say they have lived until they've taken a deep breath of the fresh, salty air and felt the wind rush through their hair. It's been many, many months since I've seen the coast." he tells her as his eyes begin to drift off, "My family, you see, they sail along the coast from city to city trading goods and have for many generations. You can move out there much faster than on land, you see... But I've never been good at sailing, I decided to go inland and see if I could set up some new trade connections."

He looks back to the girl with a smile before continuing his previous description of the ocean which he was sure would be far more interest to her than the particulars of his pedigree, "But, the sunset on the sea is even more spectacular than on land. The colors of the sky sparkle through the fog, spread across the sea and mix together in the waves. They are a sight that no artists' brush can hope to capture.... oh, but perhaps I could bring a Kakita back to the coast with me to give it a try." After only a brief pause he scooted to her just a bit before questioning teasingly, "You don't happen to be a Kakita?"

One could only wonder if he was intentionally teasing that he'd mistaken her for a samurai or if he truly didn't realize that the servants didn't carry the same family names as the houses they served. Either way, it might make sense for it was incredibly unusual for even ronin to treat peasants with such interest and flattery rather than treating them merely as part of the landscape.

"'A blade that strikes late may as well not strike'." If it sounded like a cliche' from the dueling academy, well, that was because it was.

"In exchange for an alliance that would last for the duration of the Lion assault, all we ask is to foster a few of our young ones among the Crane for a year and a day."

Almost word for word. Almost.

"Both of our clans would benefit greatly from this fostering. After all, this time it would be voluntary ... and without such shame as that which accompanied my fostering to the Clan of Lady Doji, the beauty -- and the Wisdom of the Duty -- of the Crane will be much easier for our young ones to see."

"A healing gesture. I shudder to think what might have happened to me if it were not for my Sensei and Sempai ..."

Perhaps he shouldn't have ad-libed that last part ...

 As Bayushi Kenshin speaks - and offers his services to the Crane as token of a possible alliance between two of the most Courtly (if in different fashions) of the Great Clans, Kedo takes the opportunity to slip forwards, hopefully without drawing more attention than might already have been shot his way when a grubby, blood-soaked Ronin is singled out by the seniormost Bushi in the city as the source of some sort of tactical plan being given serious consideration by its leadership.

 The movement places him sufficiently close to Sakura that he can address her quietly, and since he lacks the Courtiers talent of speech that does not require the movement of lips, merely lowers his voice to the point where someone would need to listen to make out the words, rather than pretending that no speech is taking place.

 _{"You have need of a Yojimbo."} he murmurs, a reminder that almost certainly need not have been given, and yet somehow seems to be perfectly timed given the way that things are unfolding.

 But then, Kedo's like that.

Sakura nodded to Kedo in quiet agreement. It was beginning to seem as though the only way that things could get worse would be if Doji Kuwanan came marching in and demanded her Seppuku.

No matter, she would do whatever was necessary. This matter went far beyond a couple of clans.

Sakura said nothing -- for the moment -- waiting to hear what the Governor would say. Doji Kuwanan had given her permission to seal this deal, Governor or no Governor, but even Sakura knew enough about etiquette to try and allow the Governor to save face.

The Junshin, on the other hand, was on his own.

"That sounds reasonable," Kasarugi replies, holding up a hand to forestall any arguments, "we are desperate.  While the Scorpion have a reputation for untrustworthyness," he says, looking apologetically at Bayushi Kenshin, "beggars cannot be choosers.  Tell the Scorpion that we eagerly await their children...and, perhaps word of how many troops they intend to send?"

***

"Not me, Sama," the serving girl bows to Lin Ru-Fang, "I am not so high in the Celestial Order."

Kenshin was glad that things went well for him in this first assignment. Not that he had thought it would go too poorly; he was well aware of the fact that he was the "Mask of Honor" for his clan, but if such were to be his duty then so be it.

"Gladly, Dono. By your leave ..."

[When given leave, he will proceed directly to Clan HQ to report.]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:10, Fri 12 June 2009.

Sakura waited until the Scorpion had left before she spoke up again.

"What word from the Mantis?" she asked politely, "I remember that someone was sent to speak to them. Has anyone approached the Unicorn? Or the Dragon?"

"The Dragon have been approached, lady Doji."  He nods.  "Alas, the recent attack delayed any decision, as my lords heal their wounds and ensure to their further security."  As the words leave Toshirou's mouth, he realizes that they could be interpreted as an insult, implying that the Crane could not protect his lords in their own land.  Then again, the Crane couldn't, apparently, so perhaps his words were out of place.  Nonetheless, the young dragon steeled his face and hoped that the assembled samurai would overlook the gaffe.

"The Mantis have requested our duty as representatives of the Minor Clans, Doji Kasarugi replies, "and I, for one, am loath to give it to them--especially with aide forthcoming from the Scorpion.  But considering the loss of Doji Kusanagi and the likely loss of Daidoji Ryu and Daidoji Tokagero..."

"There is nothing that the Mantis can do to make up for that" Sakura interjected politely. "It seems to me that, much like the Scorpion, the Mantis are not trusted -- "mercenaries". Further, it seems to me that their request is much greater than the other."

"But, in the end, that decision is yours alone ..."

She still had not been given permission to leave.

"Very well," Doji Kasarugi nods, "I shall think on this, in the meantime, go on about your duties...unless you have further business to discuss with me?"

 And though Sakura has not yet spoken of her need for a replacement for the blade that has brought her this far alive and well, Kedo offers a deep and respectful bow to Doji Kasarugi and retreats, his stride seeming somehow lighter despite the blood and desperation that has dogged it since his arrival within these walls.

 He does not turn of course, but he is unmistakeably drawing away from the woman who has until now been his ward, with the obvious intention of going about errands of his own.

Finally spotting the governor's house, Sumi smiled. She shook her head at what she considered her own stupidity. How she could have gotten lost trying to find it baffled her completely, yet it happened. She let out an obvious sigh of relief and hoisted her pack higher up on her shoulder and adjusted her kimono as she approached the expansive dwelling and began looking around for someone to welcome her. It would be extremely rude to barge in unannounced.

"Kedo-Kun has run his course as Yojimbo, so I need to find a new one" she said with politely, "but I do not wish to burden you with my concerns."

"By your leave ..."

When the new woman entered into the governor's manor, the merchant's gaze could not help but be drawn to her. Her manor of dress certainly seemed to be "out of fashion" for this city afterall-- he wasn't even certain he'd seen a member of the family before. Although he had extensive dealings with the family now known as Yoritomo, he hadn't been in contact with the Tsuruchi so much.

Although he did not speak up himself, he did indicate to the girl he was previously lavishing his attention upon that a new visitor had arrived. "Well, do not allow me to keep you from your duties any longer-- it seems another has arrived to speak to the govenor."

"Take Daidoji Kumi in the interim, Sakura-san," Doji Kasarugi says, "I doubt that I will need more than two yojimbo for the time it will take either you or I to find a replacement."

As Daidoji Sakura departs, a servant enters announcing the presence of Tsuruchi Sumi and Lin Ru-Fang.

"Please, come in, both of you," Doji Kasarugi says generously, "how may I help the two of you?"