Gary
To say that Sanumo had not been looking forward to this meeting was a **Significant** Understatement. This was the first time he had actually failed Iemon and, though his rational mind remained fairly convinced that he would be offered leniency, his irrational mind screamed that he would be made to pack his belongings and return home.

Having found a suitable opening in both of their schedules, he had sent a missive confirming the day, time, and importance of the meeting... And nothing else. If he was going to report on something like this, he wanted the courtesy of seeing the ambassador's reaction in real-time; not whatever facade he chose to show upon contemplation. That, he felt, was the least he was owed.

He hesitated just outside the door to Iemon's office, the potential ramifications entrenching themselves in his mind, before he took a deep breath and admitted himself after a gentle knock.

"Iemon-sama." He bowed and, if permitted, stiffly took a seat.

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Steven
"Come in, please." Iemon called out loud enough to be heard as Sanumo entered. Since he had made the appointment in advance, tea was already sitting ready for the two men.

Sanumo's stiff formality in both setting up the meeting as well as his current bearing concerned Iemon, and he cast an appraising eye on the other man as he gestured for him to sit. "Sanumo-san, I can tell that something is amiss. What is amiss? What could do deeply affect my trusted Karo who has done much to keep me centered in such troubling times?" He slid the tea a little closer to Sanumo, and proceeded to sip from his own and settle into his own seat, attentively waiting the response.

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Gary
*Am I truly so easy to see through?*

He took a deep, unsteady breath. "You surely recall the missing Isawa that you tasked me with collecting and my planned voyage into the countryside to do so..."

He didn't want to continue that thought, but it was what Duty demanded of him.

"...We were unsuccessful, Iemon-sama. I would have brought it to your attention sooner, but Taisei's inflammatory actions have left us reeling and my own plate overflowing, as it were. I am very sorry."

There was definitely more detail to be shared, but that would wait. For now, Sanumo offered a seated bow as deep as he could without simply resting his head on his superior's desk.

*If it's going to happen, it will be now.*

A lump formed in his throat as he imagined Iemon considering the situation.

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Steven
A beat of silence hung over the room as Iemon pondered these words. He took a slow breath, his eyes shut as he forced the intake and exhalation of air to be even. 

"Well. That is less than ideal." He said, mildly, taking a sip of his tea. "As we have begun discussing cooperation with the Scorpion, it certainly behooves us to revisit and correct this post-haste. It would not do to have further efforts of friendship be damaged by Taisei's actions."

He opened his eyes, looking on Sanumo without anger. "While it would have been beneficial to know this sooner, what could we have done? Taisei's blunder did much to overshadow and shift our priorities, and I am not convinced we could have attended to this situation sooner."

He folded his hands in a matter-of-fact way, his countenance more businesslike than before. "Now, when you say 'unsuccessful,' are we past the point of attempting further? What occurred that led to this outcome?"

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Gary
Tipping his head just a bit to regard Iemon, Sanumo registered that he was not, in fact, being deported.

"You're not..." He visibly straightened himself out and cleared his throat. "Right. You are surely correct in your assessment."

"We **Can** Make further forays, but I do not believe us to be equipped to do so alone. Our heimin guide is, in all likelihood, dead."

The travails of social settings were part and parcel with Sanumo's work, but he was very uncomfortable with how close he had come to being torn apart. He paled somewhat upon recollection.

"We were set upon by a wandering creature. I'm not entirely sure what it was, but the noise caused in our fight attracted... It must have been a dozen more. We abandoned our supplies and our guide, terrified beyond the point of reason, fled into the wilds. It is a gift from the Fortunes that we encountered no further hurdles when returning home."

"So, yes. We could try to reach the temple again, but we would need to identify the threat, bring sufficient force to survive it, and have someone with sufficient wilderness skills to help us locate the temple when we only know half of the route and a rough description of its whereabouts."

The young man had grown increasingly frazzled as he prattled on. Nothing could ever be simple.

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Steven
Iemon let out a small grunt of frustration at the loss of their guide. "That may be problematic. Is there another lead that could be followed? Better still, if it could be confirmed if your guide was slain... Hopefully by the safer light of day, if at all possible, that may be a starting point?"

He pondered the rest of the matter silently, considering other options. "Wilderness skills, you say... Not that we should lean too heavily on the new relationship we have begun with the Scorpion, but at the very least they would be more likely to have knowledge of the local area. That it is a matter of a betrothal that would further tie our Clans together at the wider scale of the Empire would likely make it something more of a priority for further regaining public standing on their part?" It was a suggestion, but one even Iemon considered chancy. Overly relying on outside help could be seen as weakness, even if cooperation would yield better results.

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Gary
He shook his head, trying not to let the regret of failure show on his face to mixed results. "No other leads, no. If everything we learned is to be believed, she is staying at that countryside temple and using gathered followers to recruit more. If there's a likely alternative, it has eluded us completely."

The young courtier was not used to battle or personal encounters with the supernatural, however brief. He went still briefly while recalling the way the creature had lunged for him before Tsutsumi's timely intervention.

Shuddering, he pressed on. "With as much time as has passed, I fear that a search for Aimi-san would be less than fruitful, but I'm also no expert on such things. I would recommend either locating maps, someone familiar with the area, or perhaps even locating another one of Isawa-sama's servants in the city - though I hesitate to think that they would want anything to do with us if word of Aimi-san's disappearance has circulated. Assuming, that is, that she didn't make it safely to either the temple or the city. I have no information to corroborate either possibility."

It struck him that Iemon's reluctance to lean on other clans was quite a departure from his viewpoint when Sanumo had first arrived. Did this represent a shift in the ambassador's values or a temporary change in tactics in response to recent events?

*Either way, right after reporting my failure is not the best time to press about that.*

"Ultimately, I believe that the Lion and the Scorpion are our best options for exterior assistance. The Scorpion have more of a vested interest and experience with the land, but the Lion have a more developed rapport with us and, I would imagine, seasoned scouts."

*Or, if it came to an outright brawl with those things, soldiers.*

He didn't relish the idea of pursuing this task with only the Phoenix's assets, but he would ultimately do as he was told.

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Steven
Iemon gave an appraising look at Sanumo as he replied. *Though I'm certain this is a shortened version of events, it is obvious that it has affected him deeply.*

"Perhaps you are right, if there is doubt that she survived, at best a search only looking for her would turn up a corpse. If while trying to track other leads she is found to have survived, that would be a welcome surprise."

Something in the account had stuck out to him, and worried at the back of his mind, forcing him to return to it. "Being delayed by spiritual duties would be one thing, but actively *Recruiting* Others? That is... Disquieting to say the least. Had you found any further details on the reasons for recruiting, or what their full numbers may have been?"

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Gary
"My apologies, Iemon. I should have said as much. Aimi-san mentioned at one point that the recruited peasants have been tasked with restoring the temple at which they are staying. She was rather skittish around me and drawing information from her was consequently a delicate process. Otherwise I might know more."

"I have to wonder what she could have possibly discovered to make her so invested in that temple's well-being as to postpone her duties."

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Steven
"Not to disparage the Isawa as a whole, but their focus on the spiritual can on occasion override the needs and duties of the present and physical world. Though I suppose it is what makes the Shiba and Asako families in particular of great value to the Clan, as our families tend to serve as an anchor." Iemon offers a dry smile with this, allowing a little humor to lighten the topic slightly. 

"Restoration of a temple, depending on the Kami it serves, may be something of import, so I cannot fault her for seeking to provide for both the spiritual needs of the locals as well as for the spirits themselves. But to let it completely subsume her duty is what leaves us to pick up the pieces and assemble them in an acceptable manner, when she did not send word or even ask for a delay in her duties for such a task."

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Gary
"I agree that their proclivities are... Difficult, to say the least. However, I am certain we can take over these restoration efforts or, at the very least, make sure that the Scorpion do."

He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed. "I will do what you tell me to in order to resolve this, whether utilizing the assistance of other clans or otherwise. As you said, it is our responsibility to make sure Isawa-sama is set back on the correct path."

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Steven
Iemon considered briefly, given the options before them. "There are two things to consider. This temple is, without a doubt, on Scorpion land, and thus they would have greater jurisdiction to act in this regard. Conversely, we know that the Lion would likely relish an opportunity to both prove their capabilities as well as their duty to the people of the Empire, and it cannot be ignored that they certainly have potent Shugenja of their own that could potentially volunteer their services in this cause."

He drained the last of his tea, decisively. "It behooves us to ask both. As our responsibility is clear, so too must our efforts be channeled. By asking both, we reduce the strain that asking only one might offer, and if we can demonstrate to two of our triumvirate candidates that meaningful cooperation can achieve greater results, it makes another step towards the peace we hope to foster. If it does not, it shows us an error in judging compatibility, and we can revisit the topic at that time."

*Truth be told,* He reflected, *This recent loss has colored much of my perception. For the good of the Phoenix, I must look past my hurt pride and learn to see again with a discerning and objective eye.* 

"Thank you, Sanumo. You have once again allowed me to use you as a sounding board to better refine my thought process."

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Gary
"You're very welcome, Iemon - though I am only doing what is required of me. If there is nothing else, I will begin coordinating with our neighbors as you said."

Assuming there was nothing else, the courtier stood, bowed, and extricated himself from Iemon's office. As he briskly walked through the halls, he had one thought on his mind:

*I have been given direction with which to redeem myself. There is nothing left to do but follow it.*

Iemon may not think him in need of redeeming, but that didn't change his own feelings on the matter.

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**End of Scene.** ||Verified with Iemon OoC that this was a fine place to leave it.||