After finding the Unicorn medallion melted into the chest of a body from the fire at the Shosuro warehouse, it became the responsibility of the magistrates to inform the local head of the clan that a member may be implicated in a crime. This represented a point of concern as who was to be informed: Shinjo Yoshifusa, the de jure head of the clan or Ide Baranato, the de facto head?
The magistrates decided to speak to Baranato, who was shocked to hear that someone from his clan might be involved in such matters. He offered to help in any way possible, and, after a period of thought, recalled having heard that Ide Nakatada had spoke of how he blamed the Shosuro for the death of his friend and Baranato's son, Ide Michikane.
Komori Emi was able to report that she had made some progress in her research. Though only a beginning, she was able to finda way to utilize the Bat Clan's communication magic to open a means of exchanging spiritual energy and short messages with the Tanuki Clan. Nothing physical could be transferred yet, but she had hopes that this might offer a promising area of investigation.
The magistrates were able to track down a member of the Thunder Guard who had been present the previous night at the Bayushi warehouse. He reported charging in without waiting for the Bayushi to surrender, anticipating a fight. While initially met with stiff resistance from archers, the oni suddenly appeared from nowhere behind them. While being attacked from behind by the oni, the front of the warehouse caught on fire. Many of the archers retreated in the wake of the fire and, given the choice between a 20 foot tall monster with gaping jaws and uncountable clawed tentacles and a fire, they chose the latter and rushed for the relative safety of the warehouse. Once inside the Bayushi were attempting to flee out the back when another fire started there and cut them off. That was approximately the time that the magistrates arrived on the scene.
Ichiro Taiki was recovering from his recent overdose and in his weakened state the truth of the matter came out. His opium habit had been discovered by his family and they sent him away to Ryoko Owari with the implicit understanding that he was not welcome to return. His problem only became worse here and eventually led him to collaborating with the Firemen of Daikoku's Garden: selectively enforcing the law against their enemies, providing them with information, and on occasion acting as an enforcer. In return he received high-grade, uncut opium. With the recent fires and disruption to his supply he'd been forced to seek it out on the street where the heavy dosage required by his tolerance and unfamiliarity with the purity caused him to accidentally overdose.
Taiki insisted that he was going to be able to kick the habit on his own without any help, but this was met with doubt. Mirumoto goaded him into a fist fight and beat him, using this as a pretext to demonstrate how impaired he had become and encourage him to enter training with the monks at the Temple of Osano-Wo; a chance to repair both mind and body.