Somewhere else in KO... worrying about flowers

[Asahina Yukihime]

It is a large workshop. Despite the efforts and braziers it's cold inside. Much more than a dozen kamis are there, flickering, flying, enchanting, like dancing around the four pieces that Yukihime have being crafting for a little more than two months now.

Annexed to the workshop is a office room, Yukihime haven't been there for a long time.

That's where Asahina Shen can be found every morning, working silently. The peace with the Lion also brought some peace to the old magistrate's mind. He could devote some extra time to achieve a perfect calligraphy in every letter he writes. Staring at his own words it was a little sad to notice that old age was putting him apart from the harmonious kanjis he once used to write.
The smell of incense distracted him from sad thoughts, time brought him much wisdom, but could wisdom bring time as well? Somehow he knew his young daimyo had potential, but would still need much help.
And like in a premonition, after such thoughts, Yukihime's voice could be heard:

Asahina-sama? Are Asahina Shen-sama there?

The old shugenja rose eyes to the screen between the office and workshop. The paper is thick and decorated with pastel coloured paintings, making a little harder than usual to see through it.

"Hai, Asahina-sama."

Shen moved towards the closed door in a swift walk, years of Mizu-do, may be some agility he had forgot about had left or, may be, urge for time. Urge to do all he could before meeting his ancestors once more.


Yukihime had a small lantern besides her, it would make possible for Shen to recognize the silhoutte of his daimyo sitting in seiza by the sliding screen. Screen that should remain closed. Yukihime wouldn't be seen in less than perfect presentation, and with the amount of work it's likely that some makeup details hadn't been done.

By now, it's not just work bothering her. Tsangusuri crafiting demands astrology work, and the stars sometimes knows too much. Certainly there is much going on outside to concern Yukihime, but she had being reclusive for months already, she couldn't give up all she had done until the items are presentable to their future masters.

Shen could feel the cold air escaping by the gaps between the sliding wall and the trail, with a little more attention he could also know it wasn't just ordinary winter wind.

"Is everything fine, Asahina-sama?"

"Surely...
Would Asahina Shen-sama please send notice to my sister in Shinden Asahina that I intend to visit our shrines when Spring comes?
Please, send note so they prepare the walkways for Hanami. War won't prevent sakura and ume blossom from blooming. Let everyone be invited."

His concerns about the cold were replaced by memories of hanami festival. Shen smiled to himself, alone on his side of the screen.

"We shall not forget beauty, we shall not forget our wisdom..."

[Asahina Yukihime]

Silence...

Asahina Shen-sama...?

Shen was brought back form his brief thoughts, it was still weird to have Yukihime treating him with the same respect she used to before becoming daimyo. The serious voice he holds while on duty could be heard again:

Hai, Asahina-sama.

I also need Asahina Shen-sama to prepare two letters under my name.

Please send my words to Kitsuki Tai Lung-san and also to Kitsuki Sogetsu-sama.
Please, let them know that they are invited to Bentei Seido. Make clear that I'm going to consider their presence a major favor to the Asahina family. I can not promise more than my personal gratitude, but they may find the Carne indebted to their visit soon.

Shen silence denounced his sudden preoccupation, but after a while he asked:

Anything else?

I hope they will find out everything else.

Yukihime wish she knew anything else, but reclused and distant from courts, she was far from aware of the situation outside.

Even stars may hide behind shadows sometimes, and I'm uncertain on what exactly is happening.

But our family use to care for Benten Seido, I wish no bad to happen there. Please, make sure they are going to accept the invitation and encourage them to travel as soon as possible. I'm going to sign the letter once it is written, I trust your skills with words.

Hai, Asahina-sama.
If that is all, may I be excused...?


Yukihime nodded granting him permission and each of them bowed on their side of the screen. Shen remained low until Yukihime's shadow could not be seen on the shoji screen anymore.

Then he rose with concerned eyes. Yukihime was already reclusive before the Emperor's choice for Domotai, but Shen knew better. He now have two elegantly persuasive letters to write. Luckly, not much persuasion would be needed, just a call for duty would be enough to hook the attention, curiosity, and may be even interest of both investigators.

Shen went ahead and also wrote a brief note to be delivered at Benten Seido's shrine maintained by the Asahina, so they would be prepared to properly welcome and assist both Kitsuki.

[Tamori Manji]

OOC: Old man Sogetsu is, (un)fortunately, very paranoid (a must, given his occupation). Ever since he started, months ago, to participate in the investigation of the attempt on Isawa Sezaru's life (Bane of the Wolf), followed by the Wolf's transference to Kyuden Seppun, he always carries with him a nemuranai that protects against magical scrying (in case you're curious, its the tsuba of his magistrate's blade). A side effect of this nemuranai is that it also scrambles all sorts of magical communication in his immediate vicinity. This usually forces people to either go through trusted intermediaries or use old fashioned messengers to talk to him (one of his "hobbies" is training ravens to deliver his messages for him).

PS.: He is currently stationed at Kyuden Seppun.

[Asahina Yukihime]

OCC: old family magistrate (who was walking around during court times) is aware of much more stuff than young daimyo
And of course, nothing like a traditional letter to consist a long term proof of such "invitation" or anything else, as expected. )

[Asahina Yukihime]

When the first light of Amataresu painted the sky Asahina Shen was already heading his office.

The most dedicated samurais were starting their daily training. Other were still confortably sleeping, protected from the cold outside.

It is the first time that the family magistrate arrives earlier than the heimin. There was nobody there yet, to open the door for him, to serve his warm tea or to bring him asagohan.

Shen slid the door, it was cold inside. He moved towards the workshop, where he could hear Yukihime's prays. As the magistrate closed eyes, hearing the chant to the kamis he could also attune his senses, it wasn't just cold air is was also an abnormal amount of yin chi.

A gusty of wind swirls close to his ear, distracting him. Forcing him to open his eyes and step back in order to restablish balance and prevent a fall. He knew how distracting the wind could be.

It didn't took a long a time before the heimin arrival. The peasants of tired looks quickly lighted up the braziers offering some heat to the room. Tea was poured to the old shugenja and rice was served.
Shen drop the newly written letters next to the workshop's door, and focused on his readings.

And time went by...

These have my approval.

Shen could see Yukihimes countor on the shoji screen, she just finished reading and signing the letters.

Please, send it right away.

And so was done. Shen accommodated Yukihime's letter inside his own letter to Kitsuki Sogetsu. Lucky he had personaly meet the investigator in times that had long passed by.

Shen had no problems to get a favor from the Togashi monks, the more trustworthy messagers of Rokugan. And in that same morning, both letters were in route to it's addresses.

[Tamori Manji]

Kyuden Seppun

Even though he was 79 years old, few men would say that Kitsuki Sogetsu looked his age. Although time had not being especially kind to his appearance, intermingling its indelible marks with the scars left by many decades of service, his vitality seemed untouched and the Sensei would occasionally still go on missions considered crucial to the safety of the Empire in order to supervise and instruct those younger than him. Accompanying the Wolf had been one such case but it yielded less success than he had wished for. Although their main duty was achieved and the life of Isawa Sezaru-sama had been protected, the villains who attempted to steal it from him were still at large. That made Sogetsu assign all of his assistants and a detachment of Kitsuki magistrates, who usually accompanied him, to the duty of protecting the Wolf, leaving them at the leisure of the imperial guard and, when it was decided that the Emperor's brother needed to be escorted out of Kyuden Isawa, transferring to them all the details he had concerning the case and those that may want to cause Isawa Sezaru-sama any harm.

Later one night, a mysterious messenger arrived for him with a coded letter from an old friend. Its contents detailed another mission of utmost importance for the Empire, one that he would need to oversee personally. The answer he sent back to Asahina Shen contained the following instructions:

When the lunar hare appears from behind the clouds, the Dragon will awake and shed its old skin.

On that same night, Kitsuki Sogetsu informed his closest assistants of his need to depart and instructed them on how to better care for his belongings, which included his beloved ravens. He packed light and wore plain, unassuming clothes when he left Kyuden Seppun, just before the break of dawn in the following day; his destination and the nature of his duty known only to him, an old friend and the Asahina daimyo.

[Asahina Yukihime]

Asahina Shen knew precisely where to meet the mysterious Kitsuki. It have been a few years since their last meet.

Shen was walking looking for an inn, the Moon Rabbit, anything that sounds like it... he felt the brief lack of memory or... may be he had never really known the name of the place precisely, even if he used to walk in once or twice per month.

Yes, precisely... there it was.
The zori sandals, made of high quality ropes dyed in bluish shades were left by the door. It's a simple gesture, but it made really easy to tell he was inside.

Of course, Yukihime was kinda imprecise on what kinda of aid was needed. And she couldn't know.
Shen, in other hand, was aware of the festival and all the dignities present at Benten Seido. He could add some info. But far less than the Kitsuki would need.

Before rare Oolong tea, served mostly on Imperial lands, the greetings took place, followed by the most uncommonly 'poetic' conversation.