Fond Memories and Careful Words

[Kitsuki Kai]

Kitsuki Kai looked behind him at the small train of retainers, body guards and possessions that made up his household. He had grown used to traveling alone or with one servant. But this was not the kind of trip that could be made without possessions. The warm breeze was pleasing after the cold winter of the Dragon Mountains and he breathed deep. The grasslands were always so pleasant to ride through.

It had been six years since he had been assigned as Yojimbo to the Emerald Magistrate Matsu Nishitora. Five years since Nishitora-sama's death and only a few months since Kai had avenged his old master. He absent-mindedly touched the cloth wrapped Daisho tied to his saddle.

As the small column crested the top of one of the rolling hills, Shiro Akodo sprang into view. It was an impressive fortress and made no attempt at deception. Its power was plain and that power was impressive. The citadel was not designed to be defended by a few troops, it was designed to be held by an army. Many have criticized that as foolish, but few have ever been foolish enough to attack the mighty fortress. Kai looked on, it would be his new home.

As the column approached the last way station the Guards quickly assembled to question such an unusual motley crew. "Halt! Who comes here?"

Kai waited a moment as they scrutinized his party and nodded with satisfaction as they noticed the brands of criminals on the arms and faces of his spearmen. "I am His Excellency Kitsuki Kai! Ambassador of the Dragon Clan on my way to Shiro Akodo. Who are you to halt my progress?" Kai had always found that Lions preferred to be openly challenged rather than inspect papers. They often found bureaucracy to be tedious. For good measure, Kai showed his Badge of Authority.

"Apologies Kitsuki-Sama, we were told to expect you. Pass on!" The Gunso bowed deeply and his men cleared tohe road.

So I am expected. This will make things easier. It must have been that Matsu messenger at the last way point. Riding ahead. Kai pressed forward and within three hours had presented himself to the walls of Shiro Akodo and was given a chance to clean up before presenting himself to the Lord of the Castle. He was not told who he would be meeting.

[Ikoma Buretto]

A small and polite knock against the wood frame of the door before the Kitsuki's chambers announces a servant bearing a message, written upon it are these words:
"Humblest apologies, Kitsuki-san, while your arrival may have been prepared for in advance, the individual whom you would speak with is presently serving the Empire by protecting her borders from those who would deign interfere in the divine lands of our most glorious Emperor. We wish for you to relax and enjoy your present time within our castle walls, perhaps listen to the tales of resident Ikoma bards, until such time as a proper dignitary can be assigned to speak with you on behalf of the Clan in regards of your most important business."
The chop noted one, "Ikoma Buretto", and additionally had an affixed seal from the house of the Champion denoting the official quality of the letter.

[Akodo Taiyo]

Another day at Shiro Akodo was drawing to an end. The setting sun lit the western sky in hues of pink and purple as a column of dust appeared in the distance. Disturbed by the trampling of many hooves, the cloud filtered into the sunset sky, drawing the attention of the sentries on the walls of the mighty fortress. As they looked on, a column of horsemen appeared, sitting proudly in their saddles as the dust cloud trailed behind them. The armored bushi bore the mon of the Lion on their nobori, and of the Akodo on their sashimono. A messenger had ridden ahead with word to expect their return from the Yobanjin wars, and their arrival was anticipated by the castle guard.

“Greetings Taiyo-san, and welcome home. How do we fare against the Yobanjin devils?” called out a sentry as they approached the gate. The column came to a halt, horses stamping their feet and swishing their tails after the long ride.

“Our brothers and sisters have brought great glory to our clan, and the Yobanjin break against them as waves upon a rocky shore” replied Taiyo, as he reached into his gold colored haori and pulled out a fold of papers. “These are orders to muster additional troops for a counter offensive against the Yobanjin at Mountain Watch Keep. Please see to these horses, and let us pass quickly as we are weary from the long road from Unicorn lands. We will begin the muster tomorrow.”

“Hai, Taiyo-san!” the sentry affirmed. “Please excuse me, come in and take your rest.” He motioned the column to advance, and the samurai passed through the gate without further incident.

Later that evening, after a bath and a change into a clean kimono, Taiyo enjoyed a drink of sake while a servant brought him up to date with current news. Apparently there was a Dragon ambassador lingering within the walls, as well as an open invitation from Kyuden Isawa to be on hand for the choosing of a new Champion. Well that was something special; after all, it’s not every day a new champion is chosen. Taiyo was but a mere Chui in the vast Lion army, but he felt that he knew his own Champion’s mind well enough on this matter. Tomatsu-sama would want to show our support to our great friends in the Phoenix clan. This muster would take many days to complete, perhaps if he rode hard he could make a quick appearance in Phoenix lands before returning to the Yobanjin wars.

The servant refilled his sake cup and moved off just a few feet before sitting back down, giving Taiyo time to contemplate the news. He wasn’t a diplomat, but it would be an insult to the Dragon if he came and went without a meeting. “Emiko, please see if the ambassador would care to join me for a drink of sake.”

“Hai, Taiyo-san,” she replied as she bowed and rose from the tatami mat.

“And please bring back your shamisen. You play it so well, and it would do my heart good to replace the sounds of battle with your gentle music for a little while.”

[Kitsuki Kai]

Kai made himself comfortable and allowed his servants to set up his quarters while he drafted the necessary dispatches to Dragon and Lion officials alike to announce his presence and inform them that he had taken up the duties of his new office.

Several messages were also sent out by Kai verbally through his servants. These were sent to his old contacts from years long gone. Some of the Samurai caste, but most servants, merchants and craftsmen. Every Diplomat had an information network and the Lion were very considerate of this. Other clans spent a great deal of energy attempting to control information, but the Lion allowed their Ambassadors to have an unmolested network. Though Kai had no doubts that the Ikoma kept a careful eye on the diplomatic offices and their sources.

The servants quickly finished setting up Kai's quarters and dispersed to make their own arrangements. His quarters were spartan for an Ambassador, but well suited for a Lion or Dragon Bushi. He looked at the Daisho resting on the stand and sighed. Just then a soft knock at the door revealed a Lion messenger.

Kai read the message. Tomasu was in Unicorn territory. He had expected this, though it did make his work harder. He resumed his work for a time and then another messenger came.

"Kitsuki-sama the honorable Akodo Taiyo-Chui invites you to join him for a drink of sake!" She then bowed deeply and remained prostrate awaiting a reply. Kai studied her for a long moment.

"Tell Taiyo-san that I would be delighted and that I will bring the sake." Kai turned on his heel, fetched a bottle of sake from his own village and walked out the door right past the surprised messenger.

After a beat the girl scrambled to her feet and jogged to catch up to him. "Right this way Kitsuki-sama!"

"I suspect I know the way, you run ahead and tell him I am coming...?" Kai looked at her questioningly.

"Emiko-san."

"Emiko-san, thank you." Kai smiled and she ran ahead as they round the corner. Kai could hear his Yojimbo just now catching up behind him. Now, let us see what this Chui is made of.

[Akodo Taiyo]

The warm sake had already begun to relax Taiyo as the shoji door to his small room slid open, allowing the Dragon ambassador and his Yojimbo to make their entrance.

Taiyo was sitting behind a small table containing sake service for two. He was wearing a simple brown kimono, with the Lion mon on his back. Above his left shoulder was the Akodo mon, while his right was adorned with the symbol of the Akodo War College. He appeared quite fit, maybe 19 or 20 years old, with the top of his head shaved back to a chasen-gami style topknot. He sat in a relaxed position with his left knee raised up off the tatami mat. As his guests entered he set down his sake cup and gestured to a position at the table to his left.

“Please come in and make yourself comfortable, Kitsuki-san. I have had the great honor of fighting alongside your clansmen at Mountain Watch Keep, and I must confess the Niten style is as beautiful to behold as it is deadly to the enemies of the Dragon. Today we are fortunate to be able to meet as friends and enjoy the simple pleasures of sake, music and good company.”

[Kitsuki Kai]

"I do indeed consider myself fortunate to greet you as a friend and ally today, Akodo-san. We are living in interesting times, no? Kai took a moment to regard his host.

Military training evident. Confident, perhaps proud. Daisho clean but showing signs of wear. Spartan possessions. Statements on Niten appear authentic. This is a man of action.

Not wanting to insult the Akodo, Kai quickly thought back to his years in Lion lands and his assessment of the Akodo Bushi School. "As Niten fells fields of wheat, so Akodo fells great trees." Kai would see if Taiyo was up on Dragon metaphors.

Kai placed a bottle of sake on the small table and opened it. Pouring a small amount of the clear liquid into each cup. He replaced the cork and turned to regard the young samurai-ko playing the shamisen. "Delightful." He turned back to Taiyo. "This Sake is made in my village on the Dragon Heart plains. I hope you enjoy it." Kai's Sake had a small amount of Crystal and Jade ground into each batch. Partly to ward off spoiling and partly so that Kai would be able to observe the drinker and identify signs of corruption. "You will pardon my ignorance Akodo-san, but I am only recently arrived. It is just that...well, it seems unusual that the Lion Clan would send one of its Chui back from the front lines during the height of battle. I only wonder why...?" Kai looked embarrassed. In one statement he had managed to insult his host and expose his own lack of experience. "Excuse me Akodo-san, I did not mean to imply that you were being punished. I request your forgiveness." Kai bowed deeply.

[Akodo Taiyo]

Taiyo turned his head towards Emiko and barked out the command “Yamero!” She immediate stopped playing and bowed her head in silence.

“Please excuse me,” Taiyo said, visibly relaxing the soldier’s demeanor which had suddenly appeared on his face. “Emiko-san is a treasured jewel within the walls of Shiro Akodo and I do not wish to insult her by speaking while she is playing for us. Please forgive me for interrupting her so that I may address your question.” He paused for a moment, and then reached out to pick up the sake Kai had poured for him. Bringing the cup to his nose, he inhaled several times, letting the aroma make its subtle presence known to him. Giving a grunt of approval, he tossed back the cup in one gulp and set the empty cup back down, a wide smile growing on his face.

“Thank you for the sake; it is much better quality than I have grown used to in Mountain Watch Keep. The Unicorn may be the best horsemen in all of Rokugan, but they can’t brew decent sake to save their horses lives.” Pouring another cup of Kai’s sake, Taiyo began again, “It is not unusual for Chui within the Lion army to be tasked to administrative duties. With an army as large as ours there are numerous essential tasks that need to be performed, and while some may balk at receiving such an assignment as mine, I do not. I am happy to serve my lord in any way he chooses, for the glory and defense of all of Rokugan.”

His eyes narrowed as the smile faded from his face. “And if my lord, in his great wisdom, sees fit to use one Chui for this task where the Dragon would choose two, then who am I to argue? He is Akodo, and our Way is one of precision. There is no need for two cuts when one…precise cut...will do.”

Pausing to toss back the sake, he concluded “In any case, it is apparent that your insult was not intended, and I have not been injured by it in any way. Therefore I will accept your apology, and forget it ever happened. Once again we are friends, but please excuse me, I had not heard that the Lion and Dragon had become allies? I was under the impression that you had aligned yourselves with the Crane, at least on the issue of Three Sides River?”

(OOC: I am about to head to the airport, so I may be slow getting back to this, at least until tomorrow.)

[Kitsuki Kai]

OOC: Taiyo. Sorry I disappeared there for so long. Things have been very busy. I will try to post today or tomorrow.

[Akodo Taiyo]

OOC: Sounds good, I look forward to jumping back in head first. You've missed a few big things since you've been away. Just to clarify, this conversation takes place before the Phoenix Clan Champion Ceremony and before the Shogun's army arrives at Mountain Watch Keep.