Shosuro Shinobu was waiting for them when they arrived.  "Please, Kenshin-san, Satoru-san," her smiling voice called from behind the shoji screen, "what word do you bring from the Crane regarding our proposals?"

What was the proper thing to do?

His Lady had asked a question, one that was clearly not meant for him, and so he should sit quietly awaiting her dismissal. Yet, there was information that she -- that they -- needed. Should he tell her now? Or wait until later?

Kenshin decided that quiet was what she needed from him right now. His charge was always perceptive, though in this case the large sword-shaped gash in his kimono would certainly provide a few clues.

Kenshin quietly gestured to Satoru, giving him a place to sit, and then quietly sat himself. This meeting, after all, had nothing to do with Kenshin ...

[Kenshin will sit quietly, not interrupting his superior, until asked a question or otherwise directed to do otherwise. He's hurt pretty badly, but his duties must come first.]

"Kenshin-san!" Shinobu gasps when the shoji screen opens, "go get Manami-san!" she calls out, "you went out to retrieve Satoru-san," she asks quietly, as they wait for the Shugenja to arrive, "what did you encounter that injured you so?"

"Samurai" Kenshin replied respectfully. "They wore Blue and the armor of Ashigaru. They also had the training of seasoned Daidoji Irregulars."

"They seem to have been after the Crane Magistrate -- Daidoji Sakura-Sama I believe is her name -- and her Ronin; but, they jeopardized my charge, so I had to dispatch some of them."

One of the ironies of being a trustworthy Scorpion was that the Scorpion rarely trusted you with their secrets.

"I'm sorry to have caused you this trouble ..."

"Do not apologize for things that are not your fault, Kenshin-san," Shinobu grumbles, "what do the Crane think of this...incident?

As Shosuro Shinobu speaks Soshi Manami enters, and, without batting an eye, begins summoning the Kami to heal the injured Junshin.

OOC:  heal 12 wounds ^_^

"Kakita Ichiro-San, my Sempai from the Kakita Dueling Academy, was quite upset at the turn of events" Kenshin replied. "A Daidoji Shugenja and her Yojimbo also entered the fray, assisting Daidoji-Sama."

"A Doji was also there, bringing news to the magistrate. He was quite upset at the turn of events as well. Also ..."

Kenshin paused, trying to remember the exact words.

"Daidoji Sakura-Sama yelled something to the attackers, something about the corruption being embraced destroying what they are trying to save ..."

"They also said that they were going directly to the Governor's Mansion ..."

[If I missed any Crane PCs, it wasn't on purpose ...]

"Interesting..." Shosuro Shinobu says thoughtfully, "though the immediate concerns of the Crane are a concern for us, they are not our immediate concerns.  How do you feel that the Crane will react to an offer of military alliance from the Scorpion?"

Kenshin thought for a moment. Never one to reply to hastily, for fear of dishonoring his superiors, he wanted to be sure to do right by his Clan.

"I have not had much chance to speak to them directly" he finally replied, "but I have observed a few things. There are going to be plenty within the Daidoji that will merely consider the offer a ruse, however it is the Doji that are in charge of this city."

"The Doji are an honorable lot, and the governor seems wise. Further the Magistrate seems to be acquainted with another Scorpion, one who wears the Bayushi Mon but was trained among the Daidoji. The Governor would have to consider such an offer if it were made, and if it is as it seems ..."

He paused, considering the honor of the Monk that was present with them.

"... if the situation is as it seems -- if the Daidoji have turned on the Crane in this city -- then he may more easily be persuaded. If, on the other hand, it is not as it seems -- if it is an outside force pretending to be Daidoji -- they may be more ready to accept our aid."

"It is, after all, the Duty of the Scorpion ..."

He paused once again, bowing as he did so.

"There will, of course, be the usual accusations in private, though the Governor seems both fair and honorable so he certainly will quickly quash those. But, as I said, I have not discussed the matter with anyone so I may be mistaken ..."

Kenshin knew that his Mistress already knew the answer before she asked; it was just a matter of his catching up to reality ...

"Very well," Shosuro Shinobu smiles, "I would have you carry an offer of military alliance for the duration of the imminent Lion attack and in return all that we ask is the opportunity to foster a few younger samurai among the Crane for a year and day."

Kenshin bowed.

"Of course, my Lady" Kenshin replied, "by your leave ..."

[Once dismissed, he will head straight to the Governor's place.]

"Go well," Shinobu bows, "and may your duty prove successful."

"Well, Kenshin-san, how did your visit with our hosts go?" Shosuro Shinobu asks when Bayushi Kenshin enters.

"It went well, my Lady" Kenshin answered with an appropriate bow. "They accepted our offer. They would like to know how many troops we will provide."

"Excellent," Shosuro Shinobu smiles, "you may tell Governor Kasarugi at your convenience that five kaisha will arrive within five days^*.  Now tell me, Kenshin-san, what is your desire?"

* it would take five kaisha to arrive from Scorpion lands at least a week; for them to be here in five days means that they would have had to set out the same day that Miya Shiko arrived

Two days early. That means that the Clan had more information than he was given. Of course, that was always the case. They would have been here with or without a treaty.

But it was, nonetheless, much better for both parties if there was a treaty in place.

"My desire is to serve my Clan."

For another, this would have been a polite -- but meaningless -- response. But in Kenshin's case, this is exactly what he wished.

"Perhaps I could ask the Governor where he might have need of me while I deliver my response? I am not a tactician, but we could lay some groundwork before the others arrive ..."

"We will deliver word to the relevant parties when necessary," Shinobu replies, shaking her head, "no, Kenshin, it is you we must discuss.  Service to the Clan of Secrets requires more than loyalty and devotion--which you have in abundance--it also requires thought and consideration.  You are a samurai, which means that you are more than a weapon, you must learn to make the decisions which you believe will be most beneficial to the Clan and pursue it to its conclusions.  So I ask again, Kenshin-san, what is your desire?"

"Wakarimash'ta* ..."

It had been a little rough for him, trying to get used to the Clan of Secrets. He knew that he was not trusted -- by most, anyways. He thought for a moment.

"If I am to be of use in the courts, then I must gain experience there. Also, my wife is still new to the Clan."

"I would like to take her to visit the Imperial compound, to see what we might discover from that end. Then we could visit the Courts of the Governor."

"It would be a perfect opportunity to get used to the courts; the Crane cannot afford a scandal right now, so it would be less pressure for us -- yet still real experience."

"There is also the issue of why we were attacked in the first place ..."

[Lit. "Understood", in context also "Yes ma'am ..."]

"Yes, regarding that," Shosuro Shinobu replies, considering, "we have information, much of it conflicting, but matters seem to be coming to a head--I expect that it will resolve itself, one way or another.  You are too valuable an asset to be wasted managing the internal conflicts of the Crane--observe and report, but do not needlessly entangle yourself.  The honor of the Scorpion lies in knowing when to act as much as how."

"Of course, my Lady."

Kenshin waited for direction.

[Technically, he's still her Yojimbo ...]

Sakura and her new Yojimbo arrived at the Scorpion compound without any trouble.

"Konnichiwa" she politely told the guard, with a slight bow, "would you please tell Shosuro Shinobu-San that Daidoji Sakura and her yojimbo, Daidoji Kumi, are here. I would like to know if she has a moment for the Crane ...?"

The message would be clear enough.

"Please enter and be welcome, Daidoji Kasumi-san, Daidoji Kumi-san," Shosuro Shinobu smiles at the Daidoji Shugenja and her yojimbo before addressing the Scorpion bushi, "Kenshin-san, please find your wonderful wife and tell her that the Scorpion have a great deal of ground to make up in the courts, and she will--if you will excuse my military metaphor--spearhead our efforts.

"Now, Daidoji-san," she says, returning to the two Crane, "what brings you to the Scorpion?"

"Thank you, my Lady ..." Kenshin rose and, after the proper bow, went to find Bayushi Shinobu.

His wife.

Sakura waited for Kenshin to leave before addressing Shinobu.

"On behalf of Lord Kuwanan, I wanted to thank you for your assistance with the Lion. This was an important matter to him."

She then looked briefly to Kumi, wanting to know if she desired to speak.

"I have a personal matter to discuss," Kumi shrugs, eying Sakura, "but it can wait for a more convenient time."

"Very well," Shinobu nods to the Daidoji irregular, before turning to Sakura, "please convey that the Scorpion are always happy to help our cousins among the Crane--who else among the Clans understands the need for finesse as well?"

OOC:  Kumi, btw, does not know that Sakura is a Scorpion agent
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Tue 30 June 2009.

Sakura nodded at Kumi's response.

"I will."

"Well, if you'll excuse me for a moment, I should probably thank that young duelist properly for assisting us earlier. I'll be right back, Kumi-Kun"

She knew, of course, that she would be kept in the loop concerning Kumi; there was no need to concern herself with the details.

Bowing out properly, she left the room ...

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Finding Shinobu's sister, if feasible.]

"Well now, Kasumi-san," Shosuro Rei smiles, once you are out of earshot of your new yojimbo, "what brings you here--without your capable yojimbo?"