...Before the Storm {Ikazuchi}

[Akodo Keisuke]

[OOC]
Closed RP; Keisuke will be sending some of our heroes north, who knows what they will find.
Akodo Keisuke
Akodo Tsanuri
Utaku Mai
[/OOC]

---

The crow presence had become so common that one of Keisuke's officers had built it a perch outside of his tent. As he stood there in the morning hours the crow had returned from his nightly comings and goings to take a perch on Keisuke's shoulder. He lifted his hand and placed on the newly built perch and the crow leapt to his hand and hopped on to the wooden cross beam.

Keisuke looked back to the camp, he was waiting for Akodo Tsanuri and Utaku Mai. There something that needed to be looked into.

[Utaku Mai]

Mai walked toward the lion command tent full of trepidation. Her soul seemed to carry even more burdens lately. Heralds had just announced Toturi's plans to prepare the army to engage the Emerald Champion. Mai's pleas for peace, it seemed, simply could not compete with the desire for more war and bloodshed. She looked into the clear spring sky, and for a wild moment considered just riding away, until the camp, and the politics and the inevitable blood and suffering, were just a speck in the distance behind her. She thought about going to find Sojiro, of taking what little supplies and clues she had and searching for him deep within lands that considered her an enemy.

A lion youth caught her in the middle of her pondering with a missive from the Lion Regent, orders to make an audience immediately. With one final regretful look into the Western Horizon, Mai finally allowed duty to take her to the Lion command tent.

She bowed low to Akodo Keisuke as she entered.

"I am honored to present myself to the Regent of the Lion, Akodo-sama. What is it you require of a humble shiotome?"

[Akodo Tsanuri]

Tsanuri went through the camp. She was watching army drill when she heard she was orderd to come to her lord. She hesitated for a moment before sanding the messenger back. She looked again at the training grounds wondering what Akodo-dono wanted from her. She hasn’t seen him for a few days now, last time it was during the duel. Would this meeting she just received message about be connected to that situation?

Whatever it was, she had to go. She moved quickly and walked across the camp to the commanding tent located just at the other side of the camp.

When she was nearby she saw Utaku Mai walking in the same direction as she. Tsanuri slowed down a little to see where the Unicorn will go. Commanding tent. Tsanuri wondered what should have she done.

She went into the tent. She nodded to Utaku Mai and bowed to Keisuke.

‘You summoned me, my lord.'

[Akodo Keisuke]

Good, now we can begin.

Keisuke, paused looking at the two samurai-ko, maybe if I can get these two to work together it portend well for the trails that are to come.

As the both are now aware the Emperor Toturi is preparing for battle and Hachi legions are on the march. He shifted ever so slightly and those who knew the Lion regent would have the first signs that he was ill at ease. But the moment past and Keisuke steeled himself once more.

I have a mission for the two of you, there may be trouble to the North.... With the armies moving again I wish to make sure that the Dragon are not bringing more of those damned Fire Blossoms south through Kyuden Tonbo.

The crow from its perch squawked it what appeared to be protest, but Keisuke gave it a cutting glance. The crow spread its wings and fell silent. He turned back to the samurai, I need two samurai whom I trust to take this task, and I need to make sure that we can put any past differences aside when looking to the future conflicts.

The crow began to peck at something on his perch, and Keisuke nodded as if he suddenly remembered something. One small request, well consider it advice worth following. He stepped over and lifted two small pendants from the perch. Each pendant was identical carved jade Lion, each about the size of which the refer to as a finger of jade. The samurai Kenji brings more news of bloodspeakers to the south, I have reports of this Shoju having been seen at the Dragon Heart plain, and the Crane tell me that the Lady Haruka has been seen in it's company as well. Whilst I hope that it is not the case, and we have not done so since the days of the Clan War. Samurai out on their own would do best to carry some jade on their person. Keisuke handed, the two amulets to each of the samurai and waited to see if they had any questions.

<nothing remarkable about the jade other that the fact they are two pieces of jade>

[Utaku Mai]

Mai looked at Tsanuri and could not help reflecting on the circumstances of their first meeting, and a small frown began to reveal itself as he continued his request.

"Akodo-sama, I'm not sure I'm the person you want to be sending on a scouting mission such as this. I only have second-hand accounts of what these fire blossoms even are." She began shifting uncomfortably in her place, choosing not to dwell on her absence from the battle in the presence of the two Lion samurai.

Her frown only deepened at the mention of Shoju, as well as...

"Bayushi Haruka?" Mai asked, puzzlement obvious on her face as she thought back to her memories of the last months.

"No...that can't be right, Keisuke-sama. Shoju was in the company of a woman named Tenshi, not the lady of Secrets. Tenshi was a shiotome at one point, but abandoned her family for the mon of the spider, and later the snake. She was executed by Bayushi Senshi for some crime against the scorpion...Haruka couldn't have been part of it, or I would have likely seen it first hand."

[Akodo Keisuke]

Keisuke could tell Mai's uneasy at being asked to do this task with Tsanuri. He smiled reassuringly at Mai, he wanted burn away any doubts that she might have.
In the coming conflict and battles we will all need to work together despite our past differences. Looking back to the direction of the army. Unfortunately Utaku Mai-san, my limited number of scouts and outriders have already begun preparing for the arrival of Daidoji.... Yasuki Hachi and his armies. I need to send in two samurai whom trust to get to Kyuden Tonbo quickly and return quickly. If there is some sort of conflict I also need to know that the two I am sending can handle any troubles that may come.

He frowned at Mai's puzzlement Before the Lady of Secrets disappeared, and Lord Bayushi-sama began his quest to find. The Lady Haruka was seen in the presence of Tenshi and Shoju or so it has been reported to me.

[Akodo Tsanuri]

Tsanuri’s only reaction to Keisuke’s words was a nod when he mentioned her and Mai working together over past differences. Whether that gesture meant that she agrees or that she just acknowledged his will wasn’t easy to tell.

When they were offered the pedants she didn’t refuse hers. She took it, bowed to Keisuke in gratitude, watched the pedant for a moment and put it on her neck, hiding the Lion under kimono.

Tsanuri didn’t join the conversation. She had no questions concerning their mission and didn’t know neither Shoju nor Haruka. Of course she knew who Bayushi Haruka is and she saw her during Toshi Ranbo siege and after it but that was all. And about Shoju she didn’t know anything at all. So she was silent, waiting for the other two to finish their conversation.

[Utaku Mai]

Mai watched the pendant swing slightly from Keisuke's hand for a moment. Something seemed to weigh heavily on the whole situation, and a trained eye could notice the barest tremor in her hand as she reached forward to take the pale stone. She put it on under the fold of her kimono, where it clanked lightly. It appeared she had precautions of her own already in place.

"Very well, Keisuke-sama. I can have Ren prepared to leave within the hour." She looked at him seriously. "Unless...is there anything more we should know before we depart?"

[Akodo Keisuke]

No that will be all. Keisuke looked directly at Tsanuri. Above all things do not take any unnecessary risks. There are many things still left to do.

[Utaku Mai]

Mai bowed low and turned to Tsanuri. She sighed slightly, remembering the circumstances of their first meeting, before addressing her with a tone of distant politeness.

"Is there anything you need to prepare before we depart, Tsanuri-san?"

(OOC: I can take us into Kyuden Tonbo whenever you're ready, Tsanuri)

[Akodo Tsanuri]

"Yes, my lord" Tsanuri bowed low and were to went out of the tent when she saw that Mai didn’t move. She stopped wondering what else the Unicorn wanted.

After hearing Mai's words Tsanuri thought for a moment. "No, I shall be ready in an hour. I will be waiting near the ford. Are you fine with that?" Politeness was never her good side, but at least she wasn't provoking.

She looked at Mai's waiting for any type of confirmation.

[ooc: whenever you like, Mai-san]

[Utaku Mai]

[cool, I went ahead and started us off in Shoju's thread in KT]