It was getting crowded in Doji Kasarugi's sitting room.  Between his two yojimbo, Daidoji Sakura, Daidoji Kumi, Bayushi Shinobu, Bayushi Kenshin, Yoritomo Yukiko, and Miya Momoko, he was rapidly running out of room for himself at his own table.

"Well, now that everyone is here," Doji Kasarugi smiles, "let's get some solid facts on the table.  The Lion are rapidly approaching, the Crane need more than vague promises, and your respective Clans need to know what we're willing to offer.  Now who would like to begin?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:07, Mon 09 Nov 2009.

Kenshin did his best to provide formal introductions to everyone involved. From his group, he introduced Momoko first, his wife second and (as he was the least important) himself last. For the others, he introduced the Governor first (as it should be) and Dadoji Sakura second. As he had never met Sakura's yojimbo, he could not introduce her, but rather deferred that introduction.

Kenshin then waited for either the Governor or the Imperial to speak. They were not here for him ...

[I assume you meant Bayushi Shinobu, Kenshin's wife, instead of Bayushi Sakura? If not, I'll edit.]

Sakura sat across from the small group. She waited for the Governor to speak before introducing her Yojimbo.

"This is Daidoji Kumi."

When she was introduced, Kumi bowed to the assembled company, her face as blank and impassive as a plank of wood.
Her role was not to negotiate, but to guard the shugenja, and since she was unlikely to come under attack in the private rooms of the Governor of Toshi Ranbo, Kumi did what she always did when bored; simulated in her head ways she might kill anyone entering the room.
When those possibilities were exhausted she moved onto ways she could most efficiently kill everyone present. This offered more scope for her mind, since there were so many options for who to kill first. The governor's yojimbo were the obvious choice, but she had heard that the Scorpion was a remarkable swordsman. Then again, could she safely leave Sakura till later? She could better defend herself from steel than the wrath of the kami. The exercise was, perhaps, purely academic, but Kumi believed in being prepared.

Looking rather uncomfortable, Momoko bowed as she was introduced. She looked at the others gathered, not seeming to note the unsavoury and violent thoughts of the Doji.  She flattened her obi which held both her swords nervously, nodding her thanks to Bayushi-san for his kind words.

"The Miya do not want a war to happen." Despite her nervousness, the small woman spoke with confidence. "That the Lion and the Crane are ready to fight without first seeking arbitration could be considered shameful by some people.  I volunteer to act as arbitrator, unless one of the Otomo family can be found, or someone more suited to the task steps forward. I have strong ties to the Crane clan, but I will freely seppuku if the final judgement is at all influenced by this.  I am an instrument of the Emperor."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:12, Fri 13 Nov 2009.

"It is a little late for that," Doji Kasarugi replies, raising an eyebrow, "the Lion army is already on its way.  And why should we expect any aid from the Black Lion?  His own brother was slain attempting to take Toshi Ranbo from the Crane.  Besides," he shrugs, "this city has always gone to the Clan with the strength to take and hold it.  No Lion ever demanded intervention from the Emperor when the Crane took it, no Crane will do our enemies less honor than they have shown us.  You may choose to stand with us or stand apart, Miya-san.  If you choose the latter, the Crane will still welcome you as our guest; but if you choose to stand with us, it will be as a Crane."

"What word from our allies among the Scorpion and the Mantis?"

Miya bowed as Kasarugi finished. "I most respectfully agree, however, may I be permitted, on behalf of the Crane, to try and find a peaceful solution to this problem?  I feel that it may be possible.  If my life can buy the lives of many, then it is an endevour worthy of a Miya."  As she spoke, she flushed, going very white.  The realisation that she might get Bayushi Kenshin in harms way should she persue peace bothered her, but then again, so did the prospect of war.

Can I really stand with one side or another?  If I stand with the Crane, they may use that as an Imperial Sanction.  If I stand by and let a war commence, the Lion might view it as a tacit approval of thier aggression.  The only way I can be seen to remain impartial is to refuse to fight for one side or the other and instead become a very visable agent for mediation.

"I will leave immediatly - I do not wish to know of any plans for war, should the Lion act in a manner so as to weed information out of me."

She looked at Bayushi Kenshin.
"I ask that you follow your heart and find your duty there - do not follow me out of a sense of breaking your word.  Your duty is first to your sensei. Mine is to my family"

Kumi could not disguise a slight sneer. This hostage was more bloodless than an Asahina. War was the glorious destiny of any Bushi. Would the Miya let her Grandfather's sword grow rusty through disuse?

It was bad enough that she brought such dishonour upon her school, worse yet that the other Kakita trained students allowed her to.

Miya bowed, and stood. She noted the sneer of the yojimbo but did not react.  Instead she flattened her obi, tucked a stray hair behind her ear and smiled.
"With your permission I will leave." she said, and walked to the door.

Kenshin looked at the Yojimbo, though he kept his "Face" about him. Much easier to do behind a thick mask, of course. Before he spoke, he looked to the Governor.

"Forgive me if this seems out of place" Kenshin said with a slight bow, "but she speaks with the Imperial Voice -- this my wife and I heard with our own ears. Given the Duty of the Miya, then, the Choice of a Miya for this post is significant -- the desire for peace must be assumed to come from the Emperor's lips. Should the Lion choose to ignore this and bring Dishonor upon themselves ... well, that is their choice."

"She is still with the Crane of course. Should you permit her to do so, I will be escorting the Imperial Voice. The mission is hers, I will remain silent if I am permitted; but the Lion scouts have undoubtedly learned of the approach -- and the timing -- of the Scorpion troops now en route."

Timing?

"Surely they will wonder what the Scorpion are up to -- but there will be no doubt who we aide. Thus if honor and the Voice of the Emperor does not dissuade them, then perhaps their tactical senses will."

"Shitrurei Itashimasu*"

Kenshin bowed once more and rose to follow his charge.

[A very formal "excuse me"]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:48, Sun 22 Nov 2009.

Sakura lifted an eyebrow, both at her Yojimbo and at the reply that came. The Imperial Voice? Apparently someone at the Imperial Enclave was listening ... but it could just as easily be the opposite. And being witnessed by the Junshin -- and his Imperial wife? That could not have been an accident.

Sakura remembered the note sent to the now deceased commander.

"That is certainly noble" she finally inserted, "and I had heard that the Eyes of the Emperor would be cast upon the Crane during this battle ..."

Kumi recomposed her expression, and swallowed her disdain.

"Has there been any official word from the Imperial families, Doji-dono?" She asked, archly. "The Lion would surely resent being forced to cede their apparent claim to Toshi Ranbo after so many centuries of contention. If the Imperium has thrown its support behind its Left Hand, I would be surprised if the Right Hand were to meekly return west. They will likely contest our borders elsewhere." She spoke with no rancour, despite the subject matter.

"Forgive me if I was not clear, Daidoji-San" Kenshin interjected politely, "Momoko-Sama is the 'official word'."

"For now, Bayushi-san," Doji Kasarugi replies, "but there are far too many ways for Miya-san's message to get 'lost' or even simply delayed in transit.  The Lion might choose to hold her as a 'guest' while they confirm her identity and traveling papers.  They might demand that she show proof of the Emperor's intent in his own hand--forcing her to travel to Otosan Uchi and back.  There might even be an entirely innocent miscommunication between the two Lion armies, with the end result that the attack still occurs.  While we may hope for Miya-san's success in this matter, we cannot depend upon it.  Follow Miya-san, Bayushi-san, and know that the hope of the Crane goes with you."

"Which leads us back to those upon whom we can rely," he says returning to the remaining samurai, "Sakura-san, what word from the Scorpion?  Will they stand with us?  and in what numbers?"

Kumi kept her own counsel once more. So far as she had been aware the Miya was a guest of the Crane. Presumably an honoured one, since she had been allowed to train at the Kakita Dojo, so quite when she had received the Imperial sanction to declare the upcoming skirmish against the will of the Emperor, Kumi could not tell.

Of course, word might have been passed from another Imperial representative, but in that case, why was said representative not present to provide the proclamation personally? And why was a hostage to the Crane being used in this manner? Lacking any physical representation of the Emperor's wishes she would be largely ignored by the Lion, who would probably consider her partial to the Crane cause, and part of some elaborate ruse. Perhaps that was Kasarugi's intent, for he would surely realise that the Lion would not simply back down in front of the Miya and her Scorpion retainer, especially when both openly carried the Kakita school mon.

Where it not for the recent confusion in the Daidoji command structure, involving the other clans at all would not have been an issue, and in the aftermath, regardless who finally occupied Toshi Ranbo, there would be such fallout that the Doji courtiers wouldn't have seen its like since the Great Clan War.

In the end, all Kumi could do was ensure that she sold her life dearly, though whether it was to the Lion, Scorpion, Mantis, or even her own clan, she could not say.

Miya Momoko strode out of the place and found herslef a horse.  She heard footsteps behind her and smiled.  "Bayushi-san, I am glad you have come. I hope you realise that this course of action might bring you into conflict with the orders from your sensei, and I do not wish it was so.  You have the oppertunity to turn about and I shall not hold it against you."

Miya prepared herself for what would be a dangerous and wearing mission of peace, leaving behind her armour and ensuring she was impeccibly dressed before mounting the smallest, most patghetic mare she could find.

"It would be better if you could hide any mons, Bayushi-san.  My plan is to look as innoffesive as possible, and the kakita bushi school mon might be the only excuse a Matsu killer needs to start attacking."  Miya was wearing clothes with only her family mon.

"Naturally" Kenshin replied with a smile, "but most of those ways would make the Lion look weak or dishonorable. And there is nothing that the Doji could not use in the courts against them."

Kenshin bowed and took his leave, his wife presumably trailing behind him. When they finally caught up, he listened to Momoko and considered what she said.

"Of course, Miya-Dono" he replied, "I will change to something that has only my Clan Mon when I take Shinobu back the Scorpion Conclave. Might I also suggest that Kasarugi-Dono is correct, that having something in writing from Seppun-Sama would considerably smooth the mission."

"The Lion will undoubtedly be looking for any excuses they can conjure ... there is no point in providing another for them."

"And as for my Sensei, I have been returned to my Clan and they have allowed me this freedom. My Sensei will only be concerned that I have acted honorably between the time I left the Dojo and the time I return."

[I have no objections to fast forwarding, if that is desired. All Kenshin needs is to make sure his wife is safe and to change his Kimono.]

"Seppun-sama... good idea.  I never heard Kasarugi's advice... I'm afraid I am quite focused on the task at hand."

"Bayushi-san, I have never fought except for in dueling situations. I am... concerned that I may freeze. If i do that, i fail so many people.  I am afraid of failure."

Miya turns while Bayushi goes to get changed, and seeks out Seppun-sama for a writ from him to engage the Lion in mediation talks.

"There is a saying among my Clan, Miya-Sama -- 'There is no failure, only success or death'. All you need do is speak for the Emperor, and your very presence will do that."

"So you cannot fail."

"You will succeed in delivering the Son of Heaven's will -- regardless of what the Lion choose to do about it."

"Not only are you a skilled swordsman, you are a wise advisor as well, Bayushi-san.  Thankyou"