Within the Crab Embassey in Kyuden Doji

[Kuni Kaymar]

Hiruma Tatsu strode through the Crabs chambers with stark efficiency. His arms filled with scrolls, he sidesteped all obstructions within his path, before dumping the writings onto a pile of similar documents. Tatsu quickly turned, and headed to the door of the estate, hand sliding to the blades at his hip.

The Kuni watching over the increasing pile of paper grunted, and turned his head to the head clerk, Yasuki Ronioko. With a nod of acknowledgement from his superior, the priest uttered a few prayers and a tiny flame appeared - and started to perform the task laid before it.

By the time that Tatsu called a warning about approaching armoured Crane, Kuni Donto had extinguished the flame. The important and sensitive information was nolonger obtainable. Most members of staff had slipped out slowly over the last few days leaving only the three of them.

Ronioko looked at the doorway. She expected Tatsu to go down fighting - he wouldn't submit to capture. Donto was a priest, and should be safe enough. The Yasuki looked down at her blade, and wondered about her future.

[Kakita Hiroshi]

( OOC: Sent you a PM, I need your answer before I will post RP-wise here )

[Kuni Kaymar]

(ooc - reply sent, with a reply to one of the other Crane players as well Crab Ambassador post was back in April: rokuganee.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cranhq&action=display&thread=520
)

[Kakita Hiroshi]

Doji Junichi once again checked, if the apparel of his men was fitting for the eyes of an ambassador of a great clan. Relatively satisfied with this inspection, he went up to the doors of the embassy, ordering his men to form a half-circle between the entrance and the street. Then he knocked on the wood and shouted: “Doji Junichi, deputy head magistrate of Kyuden Doji, wishes an audience with the ambassador Kuni Kaymar-sama!”

[Kuni Kaymar]

Tatsu's knuckles turned white as he gripped the hilts of his still sheathed blades, as he quickly glanced at the head clerk then back at the door. "First Crane that comes through unbidden shall die upon my blades!" he whispered, extinguishing the lights next to the door.

Whatever Kuni Donto thought, he kept it to himself, positioning himself in the middle of the room, arms folded in front of his robes.

Yasuki Ronioko shook her head and started to walk toward the entrance, pushing her unease to the side. "No. They asked a question, let us answer them - it would be rude not to."

Ronioko slid open the door enough that she was visible. "Doji Junichi-sama, what an unexpected pleasure." The Yasuki dropped into a bow with effortless ease. "I am Yasuki Ronioko, head clerk. It is my unfortunate duty to inform you that the ambassador was called back to Crab lands, having been promoted to Damiyo of the Kuni family. As yet we have had no word of his replacement. Is there any way I can help?"

The clerks eyes briefly scanned the Crane arrayed before her and her sense of foreboding increased markedly.

[Doji Naetaru]

Doji Sennosuke was at the side of childhood friend Junichi. They had both kept a mutual respect for each other through the years and it was to everyone's amazement that Sennosuke had implored his parents to pull strings and favors in order to study next to his friend.
Years after hard training and law studying they had their gempukku and were assigned to Kyuden Doji...in the embassies quarters.
Sennosuke had imagined him scouring the Empire in honor of the Crane and the Emperor and making himself a hero but yet again, he and Junichi were among the Magistrate force at the quarter.
As he heard the words of the woman Ronioko he shook his head. Approaching his friend he whispered to his ear.

"The Magistrate Office had not received such a message. It must have been transported by a pigeon. We need proof Junichi, but it's your call".

[Kakita Hiroshi]

Junichi lowered his head and voice, replying to Sennosuke. “He must be hiding, or he sneaked out of the city. I hope it's not the latter, for it will probably be us the High Magistrate will blame for not noticing the feat...” he paused for a moment. “Well, here goes nothing. Be vigilant, Sennosuke.”

Then he cleared his throat and said loudly: “Yasuki Ronioko-san, if what you say is true, then I need to talk to you, preferably in private, so we do not disturb the rest of the ambassadorial district at this fine hour.”

[Kuni Kaymar]

Ronioko nodded. "But of course Magistrate-sama. I am sure we can find a suitable room to continue our conversation."

Raising her voice slightly she continued, "Perhaps you would care to bring a couple of your aids in with you? I do have to advise however that you may not find many great works of art or displays within - the embassy is not up to the standards within the chambers of Kyuden Doji; to my regret."

Upon hearing this, Kuni Donto promptly closed the door to the inner chambers of the embassy and proceeded to open the visitors room. Ronioko was of course correct - the room was fairly spartan, with one statue of an armoured Crab samurai in the corner and a lantern in the other (and enough seating to be comfortable of course).

Tatsu looked furious, until he saw what Donto was doing. No need to let the Crane see the furiously ramshakle other rooms in the embassy. Finding all the confidential material had made quite a mess. Knuckles still white, the Hiruma stepped back into the shadows. He wouldn't follow them into the room - but should any other Crane try to get in....

The Yasuki fully opened the door, providing an open invitation to the Crane.