Care. (open rp)

[Shosuro Yoichi]

There is the shuffle of hurried steps outside. The guards at the door of Shenshi-sama's room announce the presence of a minor Shosuro. Noting the quizzical look on the assembled people, the guard notes. "He is an actor. He has... medicinal herbs."

At that, the rice paper panel slides open, and Shosuro Yoichi slides into the room. His kimono is immaculate, and his mask is simple silk obscuring the lower half of his face. At the sight of the stricken Master of Secrets, Yoichi-san bows low, and stays bowed as he offers up two wooden bowls.

"Bayushi-sama, this bowl will assist with pain, and this bowl can be ground into a paste to help with the infection. You will need the first after taking the second. Both of these are fresh from the Shosuro gardens. They are our family's gift to you."

[Soshi Kiso]

Kiso scowled. What were these guards thinking?! The Master of Secrets was in a battle for his life, and they were letting in any yokel who claimed to have medicine. He stood up and walked swiftly before the Shosuro prostrated before their lord. He took the bowls from his hands and whispered sternly, Quiet! The Lord needs his rest and does not need any undue distractions!

He placed the bowls down near the assistant, then motioned for the Shosuro to follow him from the room. When they were out in the hall, Kiso looked irritably at the guards. You so much as let in a single person other then myself... or Yogo Hiro. You will not live long enough to regret it.

He walked down the hall to his former room, where he turned to face the Shosuro he had led there. What medicines did you bring? He had half a mind to smack him, but decided to give him a chance to make his methods known.

[Shosuro Yoichi]

Yoichi bows low, in great respect, but is not visibly perturbed by Soshi's anger.

"Soshi-sama, forgive me. I have only our Daimyo's health in mind. It is as I said. Stinging nettle will help keep infection down, but it will pain Bayushi-sama just the same. The first bowl is the finest opium, not this trash found in other lands our Lord has had to suffer with."

Standing straight, the actor spoke: "I do not speak to the kami, Soshi-sama, but I do know that smell. Our lord needs as much help as possible to save his arm. Take my gift in the spirit it was meant, the spirit of loyalty above all. If I had not suspected the severity of the wound, I would have never broken etiquette and intruded on the Master of Secrets."

[Soshi Kiso]

Kiso knew that opium could relieve the pain of it's users, but the last thing he wanted to do was get the Champion addicted to the stuff. The nettle could be used in small doses in conjuncture with his prayers. That would have to suffice until either the Yogo Daimyo returned, or the young messenger with all the scrolls Kiso had of his father's life as the Carp Champion.

Very well, Shosuro-san. I shall do what I can with the gifts you have brought. I understand your desire to help Senshi-sama and cannot rebuke you from acting in that fashion.

This was the second time today the Shosuro had given him a method to help their lord. Both could do the job to one facet or another....but Kiso did not like the side effects. One would turn Senshi's arm into a useless weight of crystal, or worse....kill him. The other, while it may ease his pain, might turn him into a junkie, no matter how pure it was. He could only hope his desire to hold out for better means would not prove to be the worst choice.

He gave a slight nod to the Shosuro. Tell me, what is your name? That I might tell your Daimyo of your aid in these grave times?

[Shosuro Yoichi]

"I am Shosuro Yoichi, Soshi-sama. Thank you for your kind words. All I do, I do for our family." He paused, his brow slightly furrowed, and he stared down the hallway toward Bayushi-sama's door. "Should our lord require further treatments, send word to me at the Tea House of the Hidden Lotus. Unless Soshi-sama has any further employ for me, that is."

[Soshi Kiso]

Kiso watched Yoichi walk down the hall, presumably to await word at the Tea House of the Hidden Lotus. Kiso almost wished he could go with, a break from worrying over the fate of Senshi. But at this point he was worried what remedies would be tried if he were to meander away.

He walked back to the Champion's quarters, gave another stern look at the guards, and reentered. Tiredness began to creep in and he had to stifle a yawn. The night was still young, and if he was to keep vigil, he better get some hot tea...

His eyes drifted over to the two bowls. Words of Shosuro Yoichi wandered in... Stinging nettle will help keep infection down, but it will pain Bayushi-sama just the same. Pain...pain could keep him awake.

Without further thought, Kiso picked up the bowl of stinging nettle, ordered the assistant to undo the bandages around Senshi's arm, and began to apply it by hand. The pain seemed to subdue for Senshi. His fever cooled a few degrees, and his skin looked just a tinge less clammy. It had the opposite effect on Kiso. The tiny hairs of the plant seemed to nestle into every pore. If he hadn't expected it, he might have screamed from the sudden shock. He could not hide the expression on his face, however.

The thought of sleeping was now the furthest thing from his mind. In fact, just about everything but the desire to chop his own hands off was now the furthest thing from his mind...

[Shosuro Kyo]

Shosuro Kyo moved quickly along the streets of Kyuden Bayushi. His senpai in the magistrate asked him to do a favor and retrieve the Soshi Daimyo's scrolls. He speeds up, not understanding the why of his job, but understanding that one doesn't question such things. He was grateful to his senpai for giving him a chance to serve the Daimyo of the Soshi, for it always pay to be in good graces with anyone in power.

He makes it quickly up to the doorway and is immediately escorted to a side room to meet with the Soshi-dono while a messenger goes to inform the daimyo of his arrival. He sits calmly in the room off to one side, waiting for the arrival of the Soshi-dono.

((This is my first post so I apologize if it is incorrect in any way.))

[Soshi Kiso]

(ooc: right on, nice idea taking the roll of the messenger! Glad to have you on board. *realizes the pun* Definitely appreciate the initiative and look forward to more)

His hands had been burning for hours. At least he now had a taste of what Senshi-sama was going through, and his intended goal of staving off sleep was working. It was the middle of the night, and the door to Senshi's quarters slid open. The guard shift must have changed, for Kiso did not recognize the mask peering at him from the doorway.

Kiso stood up and walked to the door, where he was informed his scrolls had arrived. He glanced back at the assistant to make it obvious to take control while he left the room. The guard pointed to a room he was starting to truly think of as his own. He made his way down the hall and into the room with the spoiled circle. Across the room sat a young Man. Kiso could tell instantly by the mons he wore that he was of the Shosuro family, and that he was part of the Clan's Magistrates.

You have retrieved what I sent for?

[Shosuro Kyo]

Nods slightly, the young Shosuro is dressed in an above average red and black kimono and otherwise dressed to fit his station, his mask is a simple red cloth that bears the mon of the Scorpion on it. He stands up and pulls out a bag laden with scrolls.

"The assistant shugenja at the castle said that these were the scrolls that you wanted, Soshi-dono." Holds the bag out to the Soshi.

[Soshi Kiso]

Almost instinctively Kiso wanted to just start poring through the scrolls. He stopped himself from reaching out to grab the bag.

Thank you, Shosuro-san. If your up to it, I may have further need of your help. Time is short, and I can only go through these so quickly. What say you?

[Shosuro Kyo]

Bows deeply. "I would be honor to help, Soshi-dono. What are we looking for in these scrolls." Kyo tries hard but feels a smile come on his face at the chance to help someone in such a high standing in the scorpion clan.

[Soshi Kiso]

Hmm, I am not sure on the specifics....there could be many things to look for. References to Kimi, either as Bayushi, Kiso, or Soshi. A jade arm, or a ritual for creating such a thing. Kiso was not comfortable revealing scrolls from his father's history, not that a majority of his accomplishments weren't publicly known, but some of these scrolls were from the Koi's own hand.

Kimi was also the Hatamoto of the Carp clan, so she might be referenced in that manner as well... With that, Kiso took the bag from Kyo, and emptied it on the floor, sitting down and opening the first scroll.

[Yogo Hiro]

Yogo Hiro emerged from his towers and returned to Kyuden Bayushi a failure. He took no note of the increased activity of Senshi's home as he approached the Champions private chambers. He noticed Kiso on the floor poured over various scrolls.

Soshi-san, he spoke softly, I have returned. Thank you for the assistance of your magistrates, unfortunately I was unsuccessful. How is Senshi-sama? Kiso didn't need to answer, Hiro saw his answer. He drew his wakizashi from within the folds of his kimono. Shall we do this? He knew that after they removed the arm of their Champion, Hiro would offer Senshi his life for his failure.

[Shosuro Kyo]

Kyo was pouring over the scrolls trying to quickly find the keywords that he was askedd for. He was no librarian or shugenja, but he has been in enough libraries to know how best to find what he was looking for. The scrolls slowly piled up one by one as he continued to search for what he was looking for.

He saw the yogo come in and he kept his ears tuned to hear the conversation and catalog it, but his concentration remained on the scrolls that he was asked to search through.

Kyo slowly heard bits of the conversation that allowed him to gather that what ever the purpose of this exercise was. If they failed, there was going to be dire consequences.

[Soshi Kiso]

Kiso slowly place the scroll he had been reading down. He stood slowly bringing his eyes to meet those of the Yogo Daimyo. Sheath your sword, Hiro-san. The Mistress of Secrets has been informed and is on her way. We must make sure she understands what must be done.

He was disappointed, he knew what the Yogo had attempted was nigh impossible in the time allotted, but he had rooted silently for the old man. He returned to sit next to the young Scorpion still dutifully scanning the scrolls. Join us, we look to find the solution the Koi used for his hatamoto.

Kiso knew the Yogo knew who he meant, he had been alive in the time of his father. He just hoped the secret was not one his father took to the grave with so many others.