Turtle Power
Kasuga Osamu received another origami turtle at his lab. This one only listing a time. When he visited Nanaraku he found that Kasuga Nana wants him to keep an eye on the MTC.
A
number of shipments have been coming in on ships that are registered to
front companies of theirs. Imperial law prevents them from doing
business outside of the licensed ports, so they officially transfer
shipments to domestic merchants all the time. It's technically illegal, but nobody cares because it makes the Tortoise's job easier. The problem is that, ironically, nothing
is wrong. The shipments always arrive on time. They're carrying exactly
what the manifests state. When inspected by customs officials
everything bears the proper tax stamps. When overtures have been made to
"lose" a few crates or carry a little extra cargo, the crews have
proven remarkably incorruptible. In her mind, nothing functions this smoothly.
Steamy Encounters with Foxy Ladies
Kitsune Nitsuki went to the Scorpion Garden to relax in the baths. While she was there she met an attractive young woman that seemed distressed and lonely. Introducing herself as Yogo Fujitani she related her sorrows. Her curiosity inspired her to follow her sister and leave the forest, but since doing so she has struggled to live a happy life. She married a man, but his job keeps him busy enough that she often feels alone. And despite its rules for living she was distressed to find that bushido has little to do with making a samurai good.
Nitsuki did her best to cheer her up, and it seems like her
company was greatly appreciated. Although when she revealed her ears and
tail Yogo-san seemed quite concerned and shy, though not as shocked as
would be assumed.
The Rye or the Kaiser
Ashidaka Michitaka has kept up with his training during the time away and is making excellent progress. His current thought is that Shinjo Sanefusa might be involved. Naritoki was seemingly on his way back from the Licensed Quarter at the time of his death and had been known to spend time with Magda.
The Bird is the Word
Just after passing into the Noble Quarter through the Gate of Condescension the magistrates came upon Bayushi Otado charging at Otaku Genshi on horseback. The Battle Maiden wheeled her horse around, drew a bokken, and unhorsed the brash, young Scorpion before leaping to the ground to confront him as he drew his katana. Mirumoto inserted himself between the two and was able to prevent matters from escalating.
Piecing together their statements on the matter, Otado and his servants had been holding up the already considerable traffic at the gate as he attempted to make his way through without being jostled by the crowd of needing to remove the ostentatious, bejeweled and gilded peacock on his shoulder. Genshi, unwilling to wait behind him, leapt her horse over his, snatching his peacock as she did so, nearly trampling a few of his servants in the process.
The magistrates requested that Genshi
return the bird and with that decided to leave the matter as settled
instead of charging either of them for fighting in the street. Something
that the Thunder Guard, arriving on the scene from the gate, were all too willing to support as it meant less paperwork to deal with.
In It to Win It
After a restful evening, the magistrates set out to Yogo Shiro in order to interview the sole remaining shugenja acolyte left alive in the wake of Fade's attack several months ago. Along the way they stopped for the night in the small town of Ajimachi where they were surprised to encounter that the son of the local lord was the man Ichiro Bando had dueled with during the siege of Shiro Usagi, Bayushi Isamu. He tensely provided them with the hospitality that was their due as samurai and Emerald Magistrates, but an attempt to engage in a friendly duel to resolve their previous encounter was rebuffed.
There's an Acolyte (Over at the Yogo Place)
Speaking to the acolyte he recalled the attack and the events resulting from their humiliating return. After initially defending themselves from the unprovoked attack, they begged for mercy, claiming that they had done nothing and had nothing of value. Fade said that, "All Scorpion are alike, hiding their lies behind the mask of bushido," before scoffing and directing his men to, "Strip them and send them back where they came from. Let them experience the 'mercy' of their lord."
What Fade said has had an impact on the acolyte. The other acolytes were all too willing to follow their senpai into death, but he found this attitude oddly unsettling though he knows he shouldn't have. He wants to live for something, not die for it. What did their deaths truly accomplish in the end? Was it just to help their lord avoid confronting the embarrassment? Is that truly worth the life of an honorable man?
Back to Ryoko Owari
Upon returning to the city, Otaku Genshi's sister, Otaku Naishi,
came by to apologize for the disruption her sister had caused the other
day. Explaining that when she isn't around to help calm her down,
Genshi can let her emotions get the best of her. The incident between
their cousin Otaku Isas and Bayushi Tomaru has seemingly had a strong impact on Genshi.