The Hare Come to Toshi Ranbo

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

Jin walked through the streets of Toshi Ranbo everyonce in awhile stopping to let his poor servant catch up. He had offered to help carry the gift as he knew it was too heavy, but the boy had a lot of pride in him - a trait that Jin valued. As they passed through the gates to the small minor clan headquarters, he was stopped rather shortly for the guards to check his credentials. They then waved him through and he continued into the little courtyard.

He stopped his servant and let the boy rest while he took a moment to admire the gardens. He certainly would never admit that he occasionally wished he could live as one of them. The boy soon caught his breath and the two of them walking towards the stairs leading to the building entrance. Along the way, a few minor clan servants asked him what he was here for, he pointed to the gardens and remarked:

"While I have enjoyed your gardens, I am here to meet with Toku Hirotomo "

The servants looked at each other and then one of them remarked right this way Akodo-sama.

The servant led him through a small maze of hallways until they found their way to the office of Toku Hirotomo. The servant let him in where he found two samurai waiting and talking. He bowed low to the monkey daimyo and the rabbit jade magistrate

"I apologize for interrupting you two. I am Akodo Jin and I have come to thank Toku Hirotomo."

[Usagi Izutsu]

Eyes widening, Izutsu stood quickly as Jin entered the room, recognizing the name, and he bowed deeply. "Akodo Jin-sama, it is an honor to be in your presence, my father always spoke very highly of you. I am Usagi Izutsu, regent of the Hare Clan, and of course there is no interruption. Hirotomo-san and I were simply discussing the future of our Clans."

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

Jin stops pauses thoughtfully looks at the hare bushi......

after a few minutes his eyes grow rather wide and suddenly a smile cracks across his face, and suddenly he breaks out laughing. After which he immediately apologizes for the breach of etiquette.

"You are the son of Mokuba yes? Back in my imperial magistrate days, Mokuba and i were assigned together in a small village in Phoenix lands. I dont remember the name of it all that well. The local phoenix prefect was a rather strict man and we were investigating a local outfit supposedly planning a rebellion against the emperor. They were nothing more than bandits, but the prefect was convinced it would be the empires end. Well Mokuba i remember stole in to the Bandit camp in the middle of the night and stole the bandit leaders moustache. He brought a straight razor and just clipped it off as neat as could be. He then met the bandit commander on the field of battle the next day wearing the mans moustache. I only wish i knew you were here Usagi-sama, i would have brought you a gift as well. If you wouldn't mind i would love to have a drink with the both of you tonight, that is if you aren't busy."

He looks around having forgotten himself, realized where he was and what he was doing and then saw his poor servant boy still holding a rather heavy package grimacing in pain. He then said:

"Oh im sorry yojiro you may now place the package down. Im sorry Toku-sama I wanted to thank you for returning our clan's ancestral sword back to us. Inside this box i give to you a pair of small stone lions. In lion lands you will find statues similar to this everywhere. We believe they guard one against evil spirits that mean malice, and as you are now a friend of the lion i wish to extend to you our protection from spiritual aggressors. I only wish that what i have given you, could be as valuable as what you have given us."

He looks at both men with a grin of absolute sincerity and supreme confidence.

[Usagi Izutsu]

Izutsu smiled a little and chuckled along with the Lion sensei, forgiving the inconsequential etiquette breach. "Of course, Jin-sama, he has told the story often; it's a favorite of his. And do not worry about a gift, my arrival was hardly common knowledge." He stood up and filled three more cups with sake, placing one in front of each man in attendance, before taking his seat again.

"I would be honored, of course, to share dinner with the both of you tonight, for there are things that I would like to discuss with you as well. But first, a drink to the fortunes of our respective clans?" He raised his cup and looked to the other two men.