A Lion returned home

[kentaro]

A coffin is delivered to Shiro Matsu. It contains the body of Matsu Harushi. He is dressed and cleaned for a funeral. His armor and daisho have been cleaned and polished as well, and are in a separate chest.

A note is contained.

To the Matsu Family and the Lion Clan,

Regrettably, I must return one of your sons. I do not know the circumstances that led to his death; I merely saw him knocked off the Sun's Gambit by a certain Yoritomo Masamoto.

Not knowing the circumstances of their disagreement, I did not feel it appropriate to interfere further.

We have recovered his daisho and armor; they have been cleaned, polished and shipped along with his body.

I have had initial prayers said at a Moshi temple, and the body cleaned, groomed, and dressed for final funeral ceremonies as you see fit.

My apologies for this meager effort; Matsu Harushi was drowned before we could reach him.

With Deepest Sympathy,
Tsuruchi Kentaro,
Chui in Toturi the 3rd's Armies

[OOC: Any Lion who wish to reply, start up an RP, etc., please do so.]

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

As the coffin is brought into Shiro Matsu, an older samurai talking with some of the servants recognizes - the coffin takes a look at the note and his face turns rather grim. Taking the moment to pray to the kami, the fortunes, and the ancestors of the lion the older man asks the servant delivering the coffin to wait a moment. After being gone a few minutes he returns with a note himself. With gruff and low gravely voice he says:
"Please return this to your master"

When the servant returns and after opening the note one will find enclosed:

"Dear Tsuruchi Kentaro,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to you. Those of us in the lion greatly appreciate your efforts to return this man to our clan. He was unfortunately sent on a mission that was of grave importance. Sadly it seems he did not succeed. It shows first of all that not all of our mantis cousins may be entirely trusted. Matsu Harushi although often a little rash was a good man. I remember him as a young boy training in our school. He was easy to frustrate but had an incredible spirit and gave all to the things he believed in and loved. There was one particular kata that he had such a hard time with, i'll never forget those pleading eyes as he looked to me for help, but while his eyes cried out for attention he never expressed it in words. When I came over to correct him, he stubbornly pushed me away. He was that kind of boy, and as a samurai he grew into a man who could solve his own problems and those of others. It seems this one was just to great.

Kentaro-san you have shown great compassion, enormous courage, and irreproachable honor with the deed you have done in returning Harushi-san to us. I am glad that there are men like you fighting with us in our quest to bring Toturi-sama to the throne. You will always have a friend and a place to stay in Shiro Akodo. I hope that someday we may meet as honorable men.

Akodo Jin