The fine thread to tread (RP)

[Kakita Mitsouko]

RP initially intended to Agasha Shodai, Kakita Mitsouko and Toku Kenpachi. Anyone with reasons to join, please PM.


In that particular dawn, Mitsouko woke up with a different feeling.
The last night had been the strangest of her entire life. She had been invited for the inner halls of Kyuden Doji, where some of her relatives used to live, but they were people she usually didn't live together for a long time.
But rather than socialize,the Crane clan tested much of her.
Mitsouko realized suddenly that she had many friends, many supporters, both inherited from her father's glory and loyal friends, and from her own friendship circle. And she also realized they wished her to be somebody with an important role for the family...

Many of the Kakita samurai ready for that role had instead shed their blood for the Empire in the far Battle against the Yobanjin.

She knew that, the fact of her father had been fostered by the Kakita daimyo (he was the son of the previous marriage of daimyo's second wife, and was adopted by the daimyo just after Shinoburo's gempukku), brought her lineage closer to the position by threads of affinity and accordance of thoughts. Even if when Kakita Kenshi, Kakita daimyo's son (and Mitsouko's uncle) and sucessor, commited the faux pas against the shogun, anyone thought it would be a change of times. But then, Kenshi had unfortunately died in the course of his peregrination.

And Kakita family would try to get its leader as soon as possible. A further delay would only cause problems and intrigue.

Mitsouko was not sure if she would be in fact the chosen, two other good candidates had the same chances...if her party wasn't very influent inside the family.

Now, Mitsouko wondered if she wasn't too involved with her own life, letting most important matters for her clan aside. With a shameful feeling, she realized that she had privileged personal goals than her family's interests.

The duel in the Kenshinzen dojo wasn't unexpected, but Shinoburo would be proud of Mitsouko's acomplishment. Now one of them, and Mitsouko wondered if it wasn't another step in the plan her supporters made to put her in the role of daimyo of the Kakita family. And, again, she wondered if their choice was the best for the clan.

Thinking of it, the poisoning made much more sense. Even if she was unaware of the fact she should be the most probable choice for the position, after her dad's death, many people wasn't. Political plottings took place in a change like this.

She had given her word that would serve her clan with all her soul, and had trust in the Clan Champion final decision. The lobby about her nomination would go on, by her supporters, and Kakita Ren, the best friend and kind of counselor of her father, had advised her to be far from the court for a while, to keep her nomination dignified. Some of her friends offered her to be her yojimbo, but she already had the company of two capable men to make her so necessary travel.

So her planned travel would be executed without delay. While her heart worried about the lack of news from Sanjuro (Mitsouko already had sent another message to him, about the need of this travel and the route where their travelling little group should follow), her mind had too much to think about; one of her preoccupations, the role that Sho-san was now making in her life.

...

Good morning samurai-san! She smiled to her travel companions, Hirotomo and Sho-san (actually, now Agasha Shodai, A Phoenix Tensai, but the shugenja hadn't rectified his name or title officially, then Mitsouko chose to ignore the fact until he properly present himself). Ready for our "little travel"?

[Toku Hirotomo]

Hirotomo was still tired when he was greeted by Misouko. He had spent the entire night speaking with Sensei. He also tried to reseacrh events on his birth, but nothing was readily avalible here. Perhaps he would find more luck with the Kitsuki, or even the Kuni. Maybe after this trip he would go on his wandering year. Perhaps he'd wander near Rinko for some time.

"Good morning cousin. My servant is finishing the final touches for the trip. Also, please be aware that I was placed in charge of your personal safety. So, I'm going to be very close to you at all times. If something happened to you, Sanjuro-dono would beat me. Hard. With a mallet." Hirotomo was tired but in a good enough mood to joke. He oiled his scabbord before he left his room. He was Kenku trained. He would have to remain vigilent for both his and Mitsouko's sake. Hirotomo hoped they would get to the Scorpion lands soon. He wanted to nullify and 'free' time Mitsouko spent with the Pheonix. Chiyuki was good at such things as allowing no private time. He wished she would join him sooner.

[Agasha Shodai]

Agasha Shodai - still wearing his Asako Jinjutsu mempo for the sake of maintaining the fiction that he wasn't really here - nodded to Toku Hirotomo and Kakita Mitsouko. He wore tan riding leathers; a gift from an Utaku woman whose daughter Shodai had saved when the girl had been thrown from her horse when a snake spooked the animal. He had an unstrung dai-kyu and a loaded quiver of arrows draped over his shoulder.

A slight grin perked his cheeks at Mitsouko's joke; it was four-hundred miles from Kyuden Kakita to Kyuden Miya. It would not Shodai's longest trip by far, but it WOULD be the longest he'd taken without the aid of his magic in several years.

The recently promoted Void Master and Kenshinzen had spent a few hours with Toku Hirotomo and Toku Kenpachi the day after Mitsouko discovered she was potentially next in line to become the Kakita Family Daimyo plotting their course... The Tensai had to fight to keep his jaw from dropping when he'd heard she was a candidate... The Agasha had supported the Kakita Daimyo in the court of Toshi Ranbo after the man had made the mistake of crossing the Shogun, but he hadn't seen that in the divination before the Threads of Destiny had gotten horribly tangled to render any fortelling impossible.

Shodai had suggested taking the Imperial Road due west to Kyakuehu Mura, north to Kyuden Ikoma and west to Shiro Iuchi. Once in Shiro Iuchi, there was a pass through the Spine of the World Mountain range that the Imperial Road cut through to Kyuden Miya. It was, without a doubt, the fastest way there... Then both Monkey Clan samurai countered by insisted the trio stop over in the Scorpion territory to fetch someone there. Hirotomo had given Mitsouko a begging dog look, earning a laugh from the Kakita and her vote to visit the Scorpion clan.

This meant that speed would be exchanged for the most direct route.

The trio would start by heading southeast to Kosaten Shiro and across the Three Sides River. Once in the lands of the Lion Clan they would follow the Imperial road to Shiro Matsu before turning southeast to Beiden Pass and Scorpion Clan territory. While amongst the descendents of the Kami Bayushi's followers, they would visit Beiden, Kyuden Bayushi, and Ryoko Owari Toshi on the way to Shiro Usagi. From the Rabbit Clan the three would go cross-country to their final destination.

Shodai raised an eyebrow at Hirotomo's joke about protecting the far more capable Kenshinzen. "A mallet doesn't seem like Toku Sanjuro's style from what I hear; I understand he'd be more likely to rock you to sleep with a real rock... But only if you were lucky, Hirotomo-kun." He said deadpan before winking at the boy and Mitsouko to make it clear it was a jest.

"Are you Asako-sensei?" A man on horseback, leading another horse, asked. The man wore high quality riding leathers with the Doji family mon adorning it.

The Void Master nodded. "I am. You must be from Doji Gensai's household; how is his health?"

"Much better, thanks to the medicine you gave him. He's pretty sure he'll actually live to see his first grandson's gempukku now, thanks to you."

"That would infer that he finally managed to find himself a wife in the first place, then. Excellent."

The man tugged on the reigns of the loose horse, who trotted up to the disguised shugenja. "He says he owes you far more than a single horse and travel gear. Are you sure that is all you want? You saved the master's life, after all."

Agasha Shodai rubbed the long muzzle of the horse; one of Unicorn Clan stock from the looks of it. "I saved Gensai because it was the right thing to do; not out of a desire for a reward. Tell him that any debts he believes he owes me have been paid in full by his assistance."

"I'll pass that along, sir, but I have no doubt that you will always have a place to stay in Kyuden Doji whenever you pass through." The man then gave a bow and departed.

The Tensai took the bit and bridle out of the horse's mouth: a Unicorn steed needed no such devices to recieve direction from one who had spent time with the Iuchi Family. "Thank you for humoring me by delaying our departure so I could let my Doji friend to provide me a horse, Mitsouko-san. The man has been all but BEGGING me to ask him for something since I helped him recover from a nasty flu." Shodai said to the others as he tied down the riding yumi to the well-provisioned pack that Doji Gensai had given him. "If we are able to make good time, we should be able to reach Shiro Matsu by nightfall, though, and if a miracle happens, we might make Kyuden Miya in a week."

[Toku Hirotomo]

Hirotomo looked off to the west. "That would put us in the Scorpion lands in a few days. Chiyuki should be waiting at Ryoko Owari Toshi. I'll admit seeing The City of Lies for the first time most likely will not be plesant. The stories I have heard were not very flattering."

Kenpachi walked to the group, holding a small box."Give this to Chiyuki. It's the gift for the Miya Daimyo. Be safe on the trip. Remember to hide your coins one you hit the cities. Chiyuki's better at the cities, you're better in the wilderness. Use both of those skills. Keep her safe. I don't want to tell the Fuzake Daiymo that my son let his youngest get hurt. Remember what you represent." Kenpachi handed his son a scroll. "Keep this with you when you get to Ryoko Owari Toshi. Something similar helped me during my first trip there." Kenpachi took a look at the samurai heading out. Something was feeling off. Kenpachi saw a white cat last evening. Kenpachi looked into his son's eyes. "Keep yourself safe as well."

[Kakita Mitsouko]

Unfortunately, Mitsouko didn't find any fun in the joke about Sanjuro. The lack of news got her preoccupied and bothered, and, yes, she thought Sho-san, like a potential candidate to her hand (as said her mother), would save any commentary about Sanjuro to his own thoughts.
"I am sympathetic to the Toku Champion method, then. I like to throw "rocks" at people as well." She said a bit too harshly.
But she got really mad when the Doji brought him a horse. What, did Sho-san really thought that she would permit that her travel companions to a long travel like theirs, to perform it by foot? Well, she do not possesses more than two pure Utaku breed between the horses in her barn, but she was a damn Kakita fudai with enough funds to sponsor some comfort and provide transport for all her guests! And, well, if he was acustomed to people "Begging" him to do things for him, for a simple flu cure, what would he expect from saving her life? Anyway, she could not imagine Gensai begging nothing. Maybe to Sho-san.
Good, Sho-san made nothing to humoring ME in the beggining of our journey, she thought. When the servants brought the horses, she dispensed the spare one, and was taking one more for the Fuzake friend of Hirotomo, just in case. As Hirotomo had his own horse, they don't need another.
"Kenpachi-san, we will take care of each other, and Hirotomo will look upon us, ladies!" She blinked at the Monkey man, mounting her ride. "Farewell, my good friend, we will see again soon."

[Agasha Shodai]

OOC: Just to clarify, the whole thing with Gensai was meant to be understood as a bit of sarcasm on my part. The gist is Gensai was so miserable that he thought that he was dying when he had the flu. All Shodai did was make Gensai comfortable while the illness ran its course. Taking rewards for exercising compassion goes against Shodai's personal ethics, but Gensai, convinced the shugenja had gone to the ends of the earth, felt - like any samurai would - an obligation that he'd want to repay, so he'd pester my character whenever he could for some means of sating his self-declared debt to the medic. The need for a horse was a means to allow Gensai an honorable means of getting on with his life. ;D

When Kakita Mitsouko's attitude turned chilly after his rock comment, Agasha Shodai blinked in surprise; realizing that his efforts at humor had fallen flat. After all, there was nothing wrong with using rocks - by the Kami, most of his Earth magic repetoire involved using rocks in some way, shape or form - and they were far handier than finding a mallet. He saw her get introspective and he realized that trying to clarify that Sanjuro was known - and well honored - for his ability to improvise weapons using what nature provided would be fruitless.

The Void Master sighed quietly. 'A fine way to get started on this trip; still acting like I'm hanging out with the Hiruma scouts rather than a refined woman. I'll have to be more careful going forward.

Then he noticed a servant bringing three horses towards them while Hirotomo grabbed his own mount's reins and lead the horse out. When Mitsouko-san sent one back, Agasha realized that she hadn't expected for him to make travel arrangements for himself - something he was accustomed to doing, given the number of times he'd criss-crossed the Empire.

He rubbed the back of his neck. She's already doing me a greater favor that I would have ever DREAMED of asking her for; even if I HAD been so inclined to ask for payment for service... Making such a long trip for something that might be nothing more than a figment of my imagination when she's got duties HERE that should have her undivided attention. There is no honorable way I could I have asked her to provide anything more than what she is already doing...'

Agasha Shodai walked towards Toku Kenpachi, speaking low so as to not be overheard. "I wanted to thank you for lending us your son's services for this trip. I have seen first hand that he is a capable young man and in my meditations I have seen that this trip will be instrumental in forging him into the man he will become. I won't say I have all the answers as to how things will play out, but I can promise that he WILL return to your clan alive, well and better for the experience."

He paused for a heartbeat as he looked Kenpachi in the eye as an equal. "I know that if I were in your shoes, I would see me as an obstacle for your mission to see Sanjuro-san marry Mitsouko-san. Please know that it is not my personal intent to be such; I am merely acting on what I have divined is the will of Destiny. All either of us can do is wait and see how it will all play out in the end." He bowed formally to the minor clan magistrate as he mounted his horse.

The shugenja looked to Toku Hirotomo and Kakita Mitsouko as he used his knees to guide the horse. "Since this is his first trip to Kyuden Miya, shall we give Hirotomo-kun the honor of leading us?" Shodai asked, holding out the scroll with the map of the Empire on it to the Monkey samurai and their route marked.


To view the map click...

www.zumodrive.com/share/ckOaMmJiNj

[Kakita Mitsouko]

OCC:
Very nice of you, Shodai, to get us a custom map! Love it! About the Kakita samurai ko humor, don't worry, anybody has a bad day.


In fact, Hirotomo, Ryoko Owari is a charming place. Too charming, and that is the danger within… I was there with my troop for some weeks returning home before go to Toku lands. Everything is easy and we can find ourselves too much comfortable there. To the point we can forget our commitments… Your father is right, it’s a place to not be dazzling by... My cousin Ryo is married with a Bayushi and their main residence is there. We have a place to be hosted there, I sent letter to him, during this week; Ryo is stationed nearby in Three Sides River with the new patrol. Mitsouko spoke, seeing that her cousin was a bit worried with the big City of Lies. Anyway, I am sure, we will not have problems there. She blinked an eye to him, reassuring.

After Hirotomo agree with arrangement about lead them through the trip, the group started to ride, enjoying the good weather of the morning.

As the day passed in their journey, her mood cleared like clouds been swept from the sky, and the conversation flowed. While they were passing through the lands she knew so well, Mitsouko was telling them anecdotes and facts about the locations, in a casual way. She was an excellent storyteller, her voice modulation very enthralling, and was clear she performed much better out the court, in bushi life and open air activities, where she was more comfortable in.

They crossed for many acquaintances of the samurai ko, and a little after the noon reached Kosaten Shiro walls.
After a brief lunch, they resumed the trip.

Mitsouko then casually started a new conversation:
Sho-san, some relatives better informed than me said interesting things about The Bride story. Some of them heard more things about the story of the Kakita Saimei, I mean, the Seppun Bride that inherited the Chrisantemum Bride Manor, hated a branch of Otomo family. It had something to do with an offense her parents family took after the death of her older sister, 'Saimei the first', in battle. She was determined to retake from Otomo something she thought it was her right to have, but unfortunately it never happened. Can you imagine what kind of scandal it must have been, in those days?

[Agasha Shodai]

OOC: Thanks. I just took the Rokugan map and used Paint Shop Pro 10 to modify it. And trust me, Shodai knows all about having bad days, but his reaction is how he reacts when he realizes (after the fact) that he's really put his foot in it.

Shodai contemplated Mitsouko's for a few seconds. He rubbed his bare chin - there was no point in wearing the mempo when the three of them were alone on the road - as he sighed. "Well, it was only a century and a half ago and, let's face it, the Otomo family's personalities haven't exactly made any drastic changes in that period of time... I have verbally dueled more than my fair share of Otomo courtesans in Toshi Ranbo and their tendency for vindictiveness is almost legendary. They take their charge to ensure that the Imperial Throne loses as little power to the Great Clans as humanly possible as seriously as the killing stroke of a katana."

"The biggest problem where Otomo are concerned because they consider personal affronts and defeats to be the same as a failure of the Emperor; even when it their own personal business. I hesitate to call them poor losers or their behavior petty and spiteful on those rare occasions that they are bested, but if there is a more politically correct way to phrase it, I cannot think one one."

The Void Master stood up in the stirrups of the horse to be able to stretch his legs and see a little bit further over the horizon. In the distance the saw the powder blue banners of the Crane - they were approaching the Three Sides River which was now considered to be Crane land after the recent debate in Toshi Ranbo. Sitting back down in the saddle, he reaffixed his mempo: they would soon be in the public eye again.

"As for the scandal, there are so many things it could have been: petty jealousy, betrayal, revenge... By Jigoku, I once had an Otomo who flipped out at me because I bought the last batch of dango from a vendor and the man was going to have to wait ten minutes while the short-staffed seller prepared more. Who knows... Maybe it had something to do with what Miya Shokujin did with Seppun Saimei's katana or because an Otomo woman had eyes on the same Kakita daimyo's son your ancestor married and didn't like that your Seppun ancestor's omiai beat hers."

"I suppose if you're really interested, we could always swing by Kyuden Otomo on our way back from Kyuden Miya. I don't care for the place myself - bad memories from a past life or something, I guess - but I managed to make a few allies there that could probably get us into the Otomo family archives to find out for certain. The Imperial families keep records almost as well as we Phoenix do. You never know when that ONE piece of information can be the difference between success and defeat, after all."

[Toku Hirotomo]

Hirotomo stayed just out of earshot of the two. He could hear words, though could not quite make them out. Cha was next to them though and most people tended to forget commoners had ears. He took off his hat and wiped his brow with a blue peice of cloth. Nothing to be alarmed about. Most likely boring courtier speak. Hirotomo looked into the distance. Nothing out of the ordinary. The Crane lands were peaceful. The Lion had an unusaully high amount of ronin though according to his reports. Most likely lost souls looking for gold by enlisting in the armies. Then there was the Pass to worry about. Bandits may have rooted there due to the war in the north. Nothing too stressful in small numbers, but too many and one of them could be hurt. Hirotomo briefly thought about using his sashimono to deter bandits. Too self agrandizing though. He just hoped his father would have the details of the marriage hammered out by the time they returned.

[Kakita Mitsouko]

The group guided by Hirotomo was reaching the river, the Daidoji encampment already in the horizon, when a whistling fiery kabura-ya crossed the sky, coming from the north woods. Mitsouko strained the body in the saddle, uneasy and alert.

"Danger in the forest! A scout needs help."

The group where about a mile from the point where the arrow was fired, so Mitsouko looked at their companions,already commanding her ride to turn:

I'll go!

Saying that and no more, Mitsouko galloped to the woods, a sense of urge and a bad presentiment swirling around her.

As soon as she reached the scout who set the alert, the Daidoji was inclined towards a shrunk mess in rags of crane colors, leaning in a rock reentrance. The care of the scout indicates the person was still alive.

Mitsouko dismounted, and the scout got surprised to see her there:
Mitsouko-san! It's Jun!

She would never tell that it was Daidoji Jun, the young samurai she saved the life once. The boy attended the Daidoji School with Hirotomo, both have the same age. The young samurai was irrecognizable. Face and upper body completely swollen. A purulent smell of fever came to her nostrils. Jun cracked his eyes open, trying to say something.. But whatever he said, she wasn't able to listen from the distance she was from the two Daidoji; less than a yard.

What does he said? She asked.

The scout turned to her.

He said...Sanjuro-sama.

[Agasha Shodai]

As Kakita Mitsouko leapt into action at word of a scout being in danger, Agasha Shodai was only a handful of heartbeats behind her as he began summoning Air kami to be his eyes and ears in the area. He would be damned if whatever had befallen the scout would get him or his travel companions. The shugenja caught up with Mitsouko as she looked horror-struck upon the battered form of a young man Hirotomo's age in a Daidoji uniform.

"I'm a healer. Allow me to assist you, Crane-san." Shodai said as he knelt by the Daidoji, his hands glowing a faint blue as he began using a Water spell to assess the boy's status. Many broken bones, lacerated organs, and... a Shadowlands infection?!

A hiss of distaste escaped his lips as he pulled open the boy's shirt hoping that despite the fact they were far from Shadowlands he would... "By the Kami!" The Daidoji WAS wearing a finger of Jade, but it was almost completely corrupted. The jade was doing its best to leech the Taint from the boy's body before it truly took hold. If the scout hadn't found him when he did, it would have been too late for the boy. He looked up at the scout that had been working on him. "How much Jade do you have on you, Crane-san?"

The man, seeing the black ink covering most of the green Jade, reached into a side pocket. "Three fingers worth, sir!"

"Excellent! Put one on and give me the other two." The man nodded and handed over the jade, one of which Shodai rested on the injured man's chest before grabbing the corrupted jade and hurled it into an opening in the Void that opened to his will. "I then need you to run to the main encampment and inform your Gunso that there is an oni in the area who may be able to spread a tainted illness. The other samurai MUST be warned; use my horse and go quickly... I will save this man's life if Tengoku wills it."

The scout nodded as he hopped on Shodai's horse and raced off.

Shodai looked up at Mitsouko as he wrapped the cord of the second finger of Jade around his glowing hand. The blue glow turned green as the purifying magic of the green stone joined with his healing magic. "Mitsouko-san, you know this boy, right? I need you to talk with him, keep his mind focused on getting better while I try to heal him." His eyes turned sorrowful. "This is going to hurt him very much and there will be nothing I can do for that pain. Pain deadening medicines will interfere with the magic. Will you help me?"

[Toku Hirotomo]

Hirotomo rode behind Mitsouko. He just saw her ride off like hell rode on her heels. She was a good distance ahead of him. Hirotomo saw a Crane lying injured and slid off his horse. He drew his sword and looked around. He cursed himself for not wearing his armor. The Pheonix was busy tending to the man. Hirotomo looked around. There appeared to be no one else, save for them and the wounded scout. Hirotomo's eyes widened when he saw jade. Who the hell carries jade this far from the Wall? The stuff does not exactly rain from the heavens. The Pheonix had a dour look on his face. Hirotomo prayed that the scout's soul had not been tainted. Hirotomo swallowed and began to focus on the area. He was not that proficent in the bow, but he drew his just in case. Perhaps he could wound whatever hurt the scout, giving the other two time to ready weapons.

The scout mumbled something about Sanjuro-sama and Hirotomo's blood ran ice cold. It was not possible. No. He must have a message for the Champion. That was it. Something happend and the Crane was a messenger. Nothing happened. Hirotomo worked to control his breathing. Sanjuro-sama was fine. He drew closer to the scout, still watching the area. He wished he himself had an abundance of jade. Hirotomo resisted the urge to shake the scout and inquire about his Lord.

[Kakita Mitsouko]

Mitsouko kneeled besides the boy, anguished, not only because fo the implications of what he most probably tried to say, but because she was Jun's friend.

Jun, it's me, Mitsouko... Jun, please, tell us... Are we far from where you were attacked? You went to Scorpion lands with the Toku... where are they?

She frowned, anxious and concerned observing how Sho-san was trying to cure and save Daidoji Jun, while she keeps questioning the scout. The best thing she could think to do to keep Jun focused in other thing than pain.
Jun screamed when the Phoenix healer pushed in his ribs. But she was confident that Sho-san was more than able to make the boy survive, and Jun needed to survive, only he knew what happened.

Mitsouko-san. We were miles north...returning from Unicorn's... The oni...Sanjuro-sama...I think he is dead.

The pain, fever and general weakness didn't make much to help Jun to transmit the whole idea. Jun contorted under the healing touch, and passed out.
Mitsouko turned to Hirotomo, pale.

Other Crane soon will come to help. Hirotomo, We need to find your Champion.

[Toku Hirotomo]

Hirotomo

Hirotomo's mind went completely blank at the thought of his Champion. He wasn't. No. Jun? Was it Jun? He sounded like Jun. No. Sanjuro-sama, dead? Impossible. No man could have taken his lord. Hirotomo came back to reality. How long had he been trapped in thought? A few moments? A minute? Longer? Hirotomo sholdered his bow.

"I need to find my Lord." He said quickly and ran off into the distance. He did not know where to look. He just had to find him. Countless thoughts ran through his head. A few minutes passed. Hirotomo searched everywhere. In the distance he heard a small, familar tune. What? Why?

Kenpachi

Damn that woman. Kenpachi grumbled to himself. He really did not want to resort to this. He took leave of the Isawa lady. His latest attempt to seal a blessing had met with failure. Now the musings that Mitsouko might be called as the Kakita Daimyo. He did not need this. He needed to speak with his lord, find out what he needed. He was on his way to Hotei Seido. He knew a few Scorpion that owed him. Perhaps they could assist in this matter. Kenpachi was almost unhorsed by the tug of his ring. Damn this thing as well. It was more of a curse now days. When he was younger, he was given the ring by the Asahina Daimyo. The old man declared that the ring would always see him to where he was needed most. When he was free to dictate his own course, this led to adventure and glory. Now that he was pulling more weight in the courts and handling administrative work, it was less useful.

Kenpachi pulled his horse to the river. The water would do her good. He filled his own canteen and began to whistle an old tune. It was different traveling alone. He rarely got the luxury. The Shrine was not far and he needed some time away from the attendents and the slow crawl of the courts. He noticed a rustle in the bushes. He heard a voice calling out "SAAAAMMAAA!" Hirotomo burst from the bushes. Kenpachi took a look at his son. Something was wrong. Hirotomo staggered over to Kenpachi. Kenpachi took him by the shoulders and shook him. "Calm yourself! What happened?"

Hirotomo slowly worked out his words. "We ran into wounded. Jun. He said he was with Sanjuro-sama! He said there was an oni. Father! Her said Sanjuro-sama was dead!"

Kenpachi took a deep breath. Mixed feelings welled inside of him, but he pressed them into his stomach. "We need to find him. Show me where the scout is. I'm sure our Lord is fine. Keep calm. Hirotomo led his father back to the group.

Hirotomo

Hirotomo had found his father. By the kami, why was he here? He said something about travel. It did not matter. His father was here. They would find Sanjuro-sama. His father came back and took a look at the area. His father took a look at the wounded man and gave a low his. His father served as a Jade Magistrate, he knew the wounds of an oni did not heal well. His father reached into his obi and pulled out a small bag. 'Smear that on Fubuki if you see anything. Do not face it alone. Call for me. Hirotomo let the tug of his ring guide him. Please my Lord, be alright. I don't want this task. I never did

[Kakita Mitsouko]

For an instant a sharp despair crossed her heart like a blade, the news echoing in her mind, like an old and always feared, but expected, nightmare.

While she explained what they found for the Crane patrol that came first, her cousin Toku just disappeared from her peripherical view, to resurge within instants with his father, Kenpachi-san. Only later Mitsouko's mind produced a logical reason to Kenpachi be there. In that moment, all she needs was the experienced Toku to be alerted and ready to help.

Agasha Sho-san skills would likely keep poor Jun alive, the Phoenix shugenja was treating the young Crane to get him healed enough to be removed to the encampment with safety. His ready help probably made the difference between life and death for Jun. The man has a good heart, she thought.

Daidoji Ryo, her cousin, finally came, and gave orders to an imediate scan patrol scout reading north.

Please Mitsouko, you are not a scout. Your life will be in risk in this situation, and now, it is a well treasured good for our clan. Come to the encampment.

Mitsouko got confused for a moment, then understood he was right, many friends expected her to be the new Kakita daimyo, she would not simply run to fight an oni. She turned her eyes to Jun again... fighting back the taint, with the help of the Agasha. Please, Megumi-no-kami do not permit that Sanjuro will be tainted...

A light but insistent rain started. She realized they needed to act fast:
Ryo-san, this is Toku Kenpachi-san and his son Hirotomo. They are close friends of Sanjuro-sama.

She figured that it was a painful meeting for Ryo, but he acted stoically, briefly bowing to the Monkey samurai.

I extend the offer for you and your son, Toku-san, but I understand that probably you would like to join the search for Sanjuro-sama. My men will start immediately, you can choose stay or go with them.

Mitsouko briefly explained to Ryo about the Phoenix Shugenja, introducing him en passant as Asako Jinjutsu.

"When you think Jun can be carried to the encampment, please, tell my men. And make company to my cousin Mitsouko, Asako-san. You will have the best we can offer in Crane barracks. I will lead the searches, please accept my apologies for leaving you. Do you come, Toku-san?