The House of Drifting Leaves [RP]

[Kasuga Shinobu]

Shizuyo wasn't really used to much attention, but the atmosphere at this stall out in the street relaxed her more than if she'd been indoors. She offered deep bows to both Phoenix as well as to the Utaku maiden as she approached, and addressed them all as she set aside her food.

"My name is Morito Shizuyo, and the reason for my generosity is purely one of hospitality. I have no doubts that your respective lords have provided well for you so that such a triffle as sushi is no bother, but that you would come here and have all set for you in a different price to be paid, ne?"

She paused and poured some tea for what she considered her guests. "I have traveled through all your lands in my journey, but I have never met any of you before, so it is a deep honor." She glanced at Mo-Li. "You will pardon my vague note Utaku-sama, I am used to court letters anymore. My father was originally an Utaku before he joined Morito-sama in his journey to form the Ox clan, so I have always had a place in my heart for your noble family."

Shizuyo made sure the server kept the sushi and tea coming as long as there was eating and drinking being done, but she focused on her fellow samurai now.

[utakumoli]

"The honor is mine," Mo-Li replied, bowing again.

She was quiet then, for a while, listening intently to the conversation of the other samurai. Every now and again, she'd take a delicate bite of sushi, covering her mouth with her hand as she chewed.

Her mind would drift occasionally to the issue plaguing her mind, but she'd bat it away just as quickly and return to the group.

[Kitsu Natsuki]

As the shopkeeper declined her proffered payment for the sushi and tea he brought out and explained Shizuyo had paid already, Natsuki raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. "I thank you greatly for your generosity, Morito-sama." Gently taking up her chopsticks, she took a piece of sushi and took a bite, noting the exquisite flavour.

As the Phoenix and the Unicorn took their seats as well and introduced themselves, she turned to them and gave a bow."Greetings, Isawa-san, Shiba-san and Utaku-san. It is an honour to meet all of you today, and to be able to share a meal of this truly excellent sushi with you as well."

The Morito began to speak, and Natsuki turned back to her. "Oh, so you are something of a traveler, Morito-sama?"

[Kasuga Shinobu]

Shizuyo gave a slight smile at this, used to more open emotion but knowing most samurai frowned on it. "A traveler? I suppose that is one way of putting it. I am by training a scout, but I have been away from my home for some little time now. While most would not know it, the Ox have always had the task of being heralds for hire, and I have done that as i've gone across the empire."

Shizuyo took a light sip of tea, smiling at the warmth in the cool evening chill. "Tell me Kitsu-sama, what about yourself? I have always found the Kitsu to be the least traveled of the Lion families, and what with the earlier troubles at the border, even more rare traveling Crane lands. That is, if you don't mind my asking."

[Isawa Kinen]

Kinen hesitated as the Ox, Morito Shizuyo, mentioned the provisions of his lord. The penultimate service of the Phoenix Clan was to the Elemental Council. Since he had stepped up with Isawa Tadaka's disappearance...who was his lord now? The Shogun and the Emperor? And how many more had he become the lord of? The feeling was strange and worrisome. Now he was in a position of great power...a position to greatly embarrass and dishonor his entire Clan should things go wrong.
But from the words and actions of those around him, none of them knew that he had stepped up to that position of power, which pleased him. He didn't want to become comfortable there. There were certainly many other Shugenja more worthy.

He cast aside those thoughts when the sushi and tea was brought forth. Kohaku was right. He needed to just calm down and relax. He ate silently, enjoying the taste. Normally he found fish in any form to be only barely tolerable, but this place was one of the few exceptions in all of Rokugan.

Kohaku, however, ate only little. Instead she turned her focus to the other samurai-ko. The Ox and the Lioness had started their own conversation, so she spoke to the Unicorn. "Tell me, Utaku Mo-Li-san," she said, using the samurai-ko's full name to express greater courtesy, "What brings you to the Crane lands, practically on the other side of the Empire from the vast plains of the Unicorn lands. I imagine with the Yobanjin, there must be a very important reason for you to be here."

[utakumoli]

"Shiba Kohaku-san, I've come straight from the Yobanjin front, yes." A look of regret passed so briefly across her face it was all but imperceptible. "I know that the Crane are our allies, and, truth be told, I have a bit of history here. I am hoping that the Crane Clan Champion will be willing to grant me an audience so I may ask for the Crane's assistance on the front, in whatever capacity Doji Yoshi-sama sees fit." She chose to omit the story of her capture, as the moment did not seem right just yet.

"And you, Shiba-san? What brings you and your husband to Tsuma so late in the evening?"

[Yoritomo Raiden]

The door to the house of drifting leaves opened just then. Toku Sanjuro walked in looking as though he hadnt slept for days. Fatigue had claimed apart of he mans body but when he smiled at serving girl it showed his spirit was defiant to the fatigue.

He spoke to the girl and started walking with her to one of the side private tables. As he walked he noticed Utaku Mo-Li and respectful nodded as he passed her table.

[Isawa Kinen]

"Just passing through, taking a day of rest. We have business in the Crab lands." Kinen said, before Kohaku had a chance to reply to Mo-li. His statement was quick, and intentionally vague. From his tone of voice, it was clear he had no intention of stating what that business was.

Kohaku looked at Kinen, a little surprised that he chose to speak up then. But she understood why he wanted to keep the search for Isawa Tadaka quiet. "Err...yes. Just passing through, taking a pause to enjoy the sights on the way. Let's see...the last time we were here was the Topaz Championship, right after Winter Court."

Kinen coughed on his food. covering his mouth as he carefully swallowed. "Ah, Winter Court. Don't remind me." His voice contained a hint of bitterness, but was now light-hearted again.
"Why not? You did well in the Go Tournament."
"Yes, and then they showed the fireworks..." His face showed embarrassment. He had fallen into a serious epileptic fit that night, although he had been making significant progress in resisting such fits. Part of him wanted to know if there was still talk about that night.

But Utaku Mo-Li said she had come from the battlefields? "How fares fighting off the Yobanjin? From what I have heard, I do not believe the Shogun's march has made it to the battlefield quite yet. Is the Shogun's army not enough?" Some might have said such a statement with sarcasm, with the recent falling out between the Kakita Daimyo and the Shogun. But there was only concern in Isawa Kinen's voice. He had heard much of the march, but very little about how bad the invasion was. Perhaps the Phoenix needed to have a stronger presence fighting off the invasion as well.

[Kitsu Natsuki]

Natsuki turned to the Ox with a slightly wistful expression on her face.

"It is fine, Morito-sama. I am bound for Shinden Asahina, to consult certain scrolls that can only be found there. I happen to have a friend there as well, Asahina Kanoko-san, and it will be good to meet her once more. It has been too long since I last beheld the beauty of the Temple of the Morning Sun. Sadly, it is indeed true that current matters between our respective clans made it rather...difficult to obtain permission to enter the Crane lands. In these troubled times, it is disheartening to know that the clans still choose to pursue petty feuds instead of uniting against the gaijin."

[Kasuga Shinobu]

"The Asahina hm? I have visited there lands before, but I confess I know none. The story of their founding is popular still though, since my own lands are so close to the Phoenix."

She glanced over at the samurai that approached with the mon of the Monkey on his kimono, but turned back to Natsuki. "Your comment about the state of things makes me curious. I realize the nature of the war up north... do you feel then, Kitsu-san, that if there were no Yobanjin threat, that the trouble with the Crane would be better pursued? Or are you saying that even if that were so, the idea of a war over such a matter would be foolhardy? It is of course your lords matter to decide or not, but our duty is but to obey, not always agree, ne?"

[Kitsu Natsuki]

Natsuki paused for a moment before replying. "In the matters of honour, much depends on how any one samurai perceives it. I hear the ancestors speak, and many cry out for the avenging of honour, but just as many call for peace that the empire may be united and strong, serving as the example of what the Celestial Order brings. Nonetheless, I believe that it is indeed foolhardy to pursue this current feud past words, for it is not worth weakening both the Lion and the Crane for what appears to have been a minor incident perpetrated by ronin scum, as the Dragon testified to during Winter Court. Those ronin responsible will receive the comeuppance of their actions soon enough, if the Fortunes will it."

As she finished speaking, Natsuki took a sip of the steaming tea in front of her."Hmm, Green Fields blend, if I am not mistaken. The brewer here is rather skilled, I must say."

[Kasuga Shinobu]

Shizuyo gave a nod, taking a sip of her own tea once more. "I am not, unfortunately, an expert on tea by any account. Tea is a luxury in the Ox provinces, and I am usually much more likely to have sake. However, my travels south have shown me a deep appreciation for the many different blends of tea the empire has to offer..."

Shizuyo paused and was about to ask the Kitsu samurai-ko more about the war and other matters before she saw a messenger ride up to the House of Drifting Leaves on horseback. She normally would not have made a note of such a thing at all but her eyes widened a little as she saw the mon of the Ox on his sleeve. He went inside and Shizuyo shook her head, downing her tea as if it were sake, in the process nearly scalding her tongue. She paled a little and bit down hard to stop herself from making a scene, scolding herself in her head. Get a hold of yourself... we are a clan of heralds... surely someone just wished a message sent here by coincidence...

A moment later however the man emerged from the House and looked around. His eyes locked onto Shizuyo's and he started toward her. She recognized the man as one of the Daimyo's personal messengers, though she did not know his name at all. She turned toward Natsuki and tried to give a reassuring smile as she bowed deeply. "I apologize Natsuki-sama, it would do me much honor to continue this conversation, but you will have to excuse me one moment..."

Shizuyo didn't take time to apologize to any of the others since the man was upon her. She ushered him to the side after he gave a deep bow but before he could speak. The two Ox clan samurai seemed to have a quiet conversation, not a whisper but far enough away to be private. Any looking would see Shizuyo pale more as the conversation went on.

[Kitsu Natsuki]

Natsuki bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement as the Ox maiden made her apologies and slipped away hastily. She turned her attention back to her sushi and tea, but when she happened to glance at the two samurai speaking in hushed tones, she noted Shizuyo's expression at the news the messenger brought.

It seems as though something serious has happened, if the mere hearing of it has caused Morito-san to look quite so shocked. Blessed Fortunes, the last thing the Empire needs now is another crisis to occupy the minds of its people!

[utakumoli]

Mo-Li concealed her concern as best she could. "The Yobanjin are being held off, at the moment, and have not yet been able to break our line. There are many, many capable samurai from all over Rokugan - even some ronin - fighting hard and giving everything they have to keep the Yobanjin from mounting a full invasion of our lands. For that, I am very grateful. The Shogun has reached the outskirts of Unicorn lands, and even now he makes his plans to launch a counter-attack against them..."

What Mo-Li did not say, however, would speak volumes to a perceptive person. Her answer was vague enough - and toed the line enough - that it was clear she did not include her own opinions on the matter. On the other hand, it was also clear that she did, in fact, believe what she said. She was not lying, but there was more to the story than was included in her words.

"It is not my place to speculate on the plans of our glorious and capable Shogun, but I cannot imagine that more samurai on our side would be unwelcome." With that, she left the issue open, but tried to make it clear that she wished to speak no more at the moment of the Yobanjin.

Just then, she looked up to see the Ox maiden get up and move towards another samurai bearing the mon of the Ox. She kept her attention in her own conversation, as not to be rude, but glanced every now and again towards the two Ox samurai to make sure there'd be no trouble.

[Isawa Kinen]

Kinen nodded as the Unicorn gave her report of the Yobanjin attack. She was calm, as she explained the situation, but was too calm. She wore the samurai Face strongly, as it would be a great dishonor to publicly display concern or displeasure with another samurai; especially another samurai of a higher status, such as the Shogun. The subtle hints of concern that made it through meant she was heavily concerned. When she turned away, he gently tugged on his wife's sleeve and whispered into her ear. "Remind me to message Miga-san tonight." His wife nodded, then returned her focus to the new Ox samurai that had arrived to speak to Shizuyo.

Quietly, Kinen reached into his scroll case, and pulled out a small scroll. He gazed upon the words, committing them to his short term memory before stashing the scroll away. He knew this spell quite well, but not entirely by heart quite yet. It would put him in a meditative trance, but allow him to perceive a different area as if he were there instead.

As he began quietly whispering the spell, Kohaku quickly poked him rather heavily on the arm. What are you doing? she mouthed out.
Magic. Kinen mouthed out a simple reply.
Don't get us killled. Kohaku only rolled her eyes. He was being pointlessly vague again. But she knew what spells he carried on him on a regular basis.

Kinen resumed whispering the spell, remembering to keep his voice even lower if his wife heard him last time. Or maybe she felt the kami moving around? The Shiba were trained to work with and around magic. Regardless, he cast his spell, and his body fell still. But through the Void, he seeing and hearing the world as if he was standing right behind Shizuyo.

((OCC: Level 1 spell, Boundless Sight, if anyone is curious. It's in the RPG. And yes, I did roll for the spell, using 5k3 vs TN 10, which is the same as my RPG Rank 1 Kinen would have to do. And that's not including the Free Raise being an Isawa with Affinity in Void.))