Keith
Moshi Mai must have been confusing the two guards that stood resolute outside of the Crane Embassy. The Ambassador had shown up, right after sundown, standing just close enough to need to be acknowledged, but just far away enough to be rude to call out to her. She wore a more conservative kimono and hoari, both Mantis green instead of her usual orange garish styles. Her chest showed enough to express her tattoos, but not enough to show off the motif of certain blue-sailed ships being destroyed by an angry serpent. Her hair was kept out and long, but kept in place behind her with a hairpin gifted from the Unicorn Clan. She carried her wakizashi against her waist, already on the right-hand side as a sign of non-aggression. 

She was dressed to make two things certain: She wasn't just some pirate anymore, but she wasn't afraid to be a Mantis pirate, either. While she never wanted this position, she put in the time, and she took on the problems that came with it. She'd replaced her warband with handmaids, and her ship with an embassy. She'd taken the proper steps to get to this point, and she wasn't going to cower just because the infamously politically devastating Doji of the Crane called upon her. 

She just needed to convince herself of that. Hence why she waited outside the gate for a moment. This might just be the most important night of her career. It was a shame it fell on her; there was such better Mantis for the job. But, it couldn't be helped. She'd stood up to the Scorpion and had them offer apologies and cry on her shoulder with their problems. She broke bread with the Unicorn, offering aid and more. The Dragon approached her for funds, not the Crane, all while the Lion ambassador confided in _her_ for advice on dissenting men. Some of those were exaggerations, but damn it all if it didn't fill Mai with determination! 

 
When she finally stepped briskly up to the gate, she presented a grey-toned letter. "Ambassador Moshi Mai, to see Ambassador Doji Rika-sama. She should be expecting me. If you would, notify her of my presence." Her tone was calm and professional. _She_ was calm and professional. Or, at least she was _really_ going to try. 

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Roger
"Right away, Moshi-sama. Please accept our hospitality while we wait for word." One of the guards would depart immediately—and perhaps a bit too hasty, slightly rattled by the Ambassador as he was—while the other would offer to escort Mai into the Embassy's waiting room.

After *Just* Long enough to make the Ambassador uncomfortable, but not so long as to make it a matter worthy of offense, a diminutive servant would glide forth. "Ambassador Doji-sama is ready to speak with you now. She offers her sincerest apologies for the wait."

The Ambassador's meeting room was a testament to Crane artistry. A single long table sat in the middle, simple yet elegant in its own way. The surrounding area was tastefully decorated with masterful works of artisanship: from ceramics to paintings to bonzai. One exotic orchid was on display too, of the sort seen occasionally in the gardens of the Ide Residence.

Tending to it, a tiny knife in hand, stood the slightest wisp of an old lady. Grey hair brought up into a simple, fashionable style, her kimono displayed the sky blues and whites of the clan she hailed from. Softly she hummed a little melody to herself. "Ah! You must be Moshi Mai-san. My apologies for the state of the room; I was resting when you arrived, and I am afraid this place is a little out of sorts for the standards of a proper Ambassador."

One small cut and the dying leave was cleanly separated from the plant. Sighing, she turned to face the Mantis, picking up her cane resting against the wall while she did so. An elderly, kind face contrasted the piercing vitality of the eyes that peered out of her visage. Bracing herself on her cane, she bowed to the Mantis. "This will have to suffice, I suppose. Please, sit. Join me for tea, and we can talk."

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Keith
Indeed, when the servant arrived to escort Mai, she was slightly uncomfortable. She'd have to remember that trick for herself; usually she was quick to get those that wanted to see her in, as to give them little time to plan out their schemes. But making them wait had some merit as well. All the same, the Moshi followed, to go and meet Doji Riku. 

The meeting room was, well, wonderful. She'd been to the embassy before, and she'd viewed all the rooms, more or less, but it didn't make it any less impressive. The artistry was definitely to Crane standards, meaning very high. Truly a show of what the Crane could procure. Or what they were given to get them off someone's case, no doubt. 

But more importantly, there was the woman herself. Doji Riku. An older woman that Mai, and seemingly a pleasant one, judging by the way she smiled and spoke. She hardly seemed a threat...

...Which meant she was certainly dangerous, in a way a brawler like Mai couldn't counteract without careful step. The fact Riku called this a state other than perfect said it all. 

"Oh, it's quite all right," Mai replied, "We all have our moments." She waited for the Crane to face her before bowing to the senior woman, and took her seat as offered. She removed her wakizashi and set it aside to the right, as she should. 

After tea was poured (either by a servant, or Mai pouring for the both of them), she would go about getting to business. "Now then, Doji-sama, as your letter remarked, we have ill news to discuss." 

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Roger
"Indeed we do, Moshi-san." Rika, who had seemed to be moving to sit across from Mai, instead continued to circle her way around the table, eyes on the Mantis Ambassador. Her smile fell. "Distressing news arrived from Otosan Uchi, news which we have kept thus far silent, but which we now realize must be confronted to continue.

"Doji Shizue. Your clan had her killed, and her murderer is being sheltered here, in this city. There is no use denying it. We demand satisfaction." Her voice grew louder, and she was no longer looking at the Ambassador, instead out the open shoji screen as she approached it. Gracefully, she pulled it shut, then returned to where she was to sit, a pleasant smile back on her face as she sighed tiredly. "There. That ought to give those among my staff who report to Yoshi something to satisfy him. Now we can speak with civility, as honorable samurai."

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Keith
Just as Mai thought, this was all about Doji Shizue. Moshi Mai kept calm, having expected the conversation to start up. She had her scapegoat, she had no reason to give in to any of her demands for satisfaction. Even as the old woman approached, raising her voice, Mai wasn't rattled. Nor when she... Yelled out the screen before shutting it. 

What?

Moshi Mai turned her body to look at the peculiar action, and narrowed her gaze. What was this? An _act?_ She wasn't sure if she should just walk out or make some sort of protest. Instead, she laughed, rudely. "Ha! You call me down here to spew what, accusations based on nothing?! Well, what else to be expected from the Crane!" She was louder than she needed to be, and offered a wink to the old woman. 

"There," She said softly, "They'd expect the mean old Mantis Ambassador to raise her voice back, not shrink to you Now, let's get to business." Mai had to admit, she liked this old woman. She'd wait for her to sit again, glancing back at the screens. 

"Interesting performance," She said, "Though a bit confusing; The way you spoke, it made it sound like you're not as upset about the late Doji Shizue as I expected." She sipped her tea, and rested her gaze back on Rika. She didn't plan to bring up if her clan was guilty or not, and waited to see what the Doji had to say or accuse first. 

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Roger
"On the contrary. Dojo Shizue was a wonderful girl, always looking to build paths to a better future. Her loss . . . Pained many of us." There was a wistful look in her eyes as she said these words, a genuine sense of regret and sorrow. She took a sip of the tea. "I would sincerely enjoy nothing more than seeing her killer brought to a swift end and those responsible brought to justice. I did mean my words earlier. Satisfaction must be had."

She looked beyond at the woodblock behind the Mantis Ambassador. A stunning series depicting the Forbidden City as a Crane took flight from its walls. In each one the city grew smaller, less detailed, the crane larger. "A skilled Ambassador is trained to look at the bigger picture. The Imperial picture. So tell me, Ambassador Moshi-san, Priestess of the Sun whose stark light burns away lies: what do you know of these rumors?"

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Keith
Mai settled in for the first bout of this talk. The Doji seemed to care about the end of Doji Shizue. From what little she knew, a lovely girl that probably didn't deserve her demise. But that really didn't matter at the moment. 

The Priestess bit put Mai in a bad place. She could lie, and she had her lie ready to go. But she could practically feel the heat of Lady Sun bearing down her neck. "Well," Mai said, "The rumor has been that a Mantis was responsible for the assassination. From what I understand, someone caught a glimpse of the assassin as they took flight. And now, the rumors say that the assassin is here, in this city of lies." 

Mai sipped her tea, and tried to maneuver the conversation. "Which, if they are here, they should be dealt with, naturally. I am unsure why Kakita Yoshi-sama or any of the other ambassadors that came before you didn't act until just now. I've heard these rumors since winter, and here we are with summer on the way. Makes one wonder why come for the Mantis Ambassador when Kakita-sama could demand satisfaction from Yoritomo-sama himself."

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Roger
Why indeed, Moshi-san. Why indeed." The elderly Crane allowed herself a dry laugh as she shook her head. Her eyes drifted to a different piece of artwork, a delicate ceramic vase upon which was emblazoned a relief of a duel. While the two yojimbo stood frozen mid-strike, the victor still unknown to all but the Kami, and the arbiter stood by with a pained expression on her face, their charges were already elsewhere. On the other side of the vase the two courtiers sat engaged in other matters. "I will instead ask you a question: why would you not act on a report of this nature? Surely you must have your own suspicions. You have led a ship, and now you find yourself leading a clan's interests, enlighten me how that captain's mind of yours would solve this mystery."

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Keith
"Well," Said Mai, "If I were you, I'd have put those Crane to work on this. It's bad enough to lose a prominent woman to such an attack, so action should be swift. No time for baking pastries, holding tournaments or playing stick-fight with Scorpions, for example. I'd confront the Mantis Ambassador directly. 

"Where, I would find that they've already been working on this since the get-go." She exhaled a rather curt laugh, and explained. "I'd find that a suspect was found, a traitor to the Mantis Clan, one that's proven the old adage, 'gaijin can't be trusted.' Now, I would never guess that a filthy Thranean would have the skill or the resources for having assassination like that. But, one that'd sold out the people to _those true enemies of the Empire?_ Well, that makes things difficult. 

"I'd find that the Mantis Clan -with the aid of the Scorpion; talk about a miracle under Lady Sun, getting good work out of those fools- apprehended an agent of the Kolat, discovered a dangerous enemy in the midst of the Empire, and have been forcing that traitor to give us information." Mai picked her wording carefully, never once accusing Gaijin Williams of the assassination, but weaved a web that was meant to show the folly of the Crane, their lack of initiative, and their misconstrued goals. There was no doubt in Mai's head, the Mantis would have to pay, she had accepted that. But she was a merchant and a haggler, and she refused to pay full price. 

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Roger
"An interesting and skillful tale, Moshi-san. Perhaps Doji Kazuhiko-san May Even habe believed it." Rika tapped her fingernails along the cup of tea as she let the Ambassador's statements ruminate within her mind. Another piece of artwork caught her eye, a silk tapestry of a branching vine choking out a maple tree. While the vine snaked and spread in directions all manner of ways, there was a distinct central trunk from which the strangling shoots spread. "We are both Ambassadors, Moshi-san, and our world is one of deflection and prose serving to conceal. But to do so *Skillfully* They must be tethered to fact. 

"So, I will present you my facts, and let us see what narrative you weave of them." The lady began to count off with her fingers. "Fact: Doji Shizue was among our most successful courtiers. Fact: Doji Shizue was progressive and a forward thinking woman. Fact: future Imperial Consort Iuchi Shahai favored her counsel above the Imperial Regent.

"Now, from these truths, weave me another story, as to why there has been no action by the Crane on these rumors." She took another sip of tea.

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Keith
Hearing all Rika had to say, it was starting to paint a picture clearer than any of the ones that hung in the meeting room. "A successful woman, indeed," Mai muttered, "And one that held Iuchi-sama's attention and respect. _Over_ the Imperial Regent." Mai was never really built for this sort of thing, but even she could see where the pieces were coming together. 

"You know, interestingly enough," She said, rotating her cup, "For all that I know about this ordeal, while the assassin has been stated to be Mantis -that, I will not deny- there was never a word of who _hired_ them. Nobody assassinates someone for fun or a whim... And, by the way you describe the late Doji Shizue, she was wonderful. She could've really went to great heights, surpassing maybe even the Regent. Which, I think why the Crane didn't act." 

Mai seemed to have it all figured out, or at least the most important parts. "Seems to me, the late Doji Shizue-sama learned an old Tsuruchi saying: 'The one that stands out the most makes for a wonderful target.'" 

The Crane were in a position where Shizue made the blunder of success, and someone didn't like it. More likely than not, another Crane in high standing. "Well, if we're still telling stories, let me hear from your wisdom: Let's say that just now, I told you who the assassin was. And that he is an old friend of my late husband. What, pray tell, would you want to have done? Speaking purely in 'stories,' of course." 

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Roger
"Well, who hired her killer is most definitely unknown. She had no small number of enemies, as any diplomat of note. I recall her voice loud in opposition of the elevation of Yoritomo's Alliance, even in the years thereafter." Rika shrugged and then looked sadly at her empty cup. As she did so, a fan appeared from her sleeves into her free hand. "Of more interest is whose failure allowed such a death to happen in the midst of the Emperor's own Winter Court, and why they occurred."

At Mai's question, the dear old Doji's eyes sparkled with interest. The fan opened, but did not yet rise to her face. "Regardless of the deceptions of court, any who participated in the death of a Clan Champion's sister—through action or inaction—should remain free of punishment. Doji Hotaru-dono, with the assistance of Daidoji Uji-sama, have been discreetly active in such an investigation."

Finally, the fan made its way over the woman's face. It displayed a humble fisherman bringing in his catch, his net teeming with hundreds of fish all trying and failing to escape. "One might wonder if this killer could repeat his performance for the good of the Empire."

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Keith
"Even if she _did_ have her issues with the Mantis becoming a great clan, I'm certain there's a social club with a hundred members. Outspoken hate of the Mantis gaining a seat at the table has been a past time since the day we earned the right." Mai wasn't too sure it was the Mantis who wanted this. It put too much heat on them, too obvious, and what did the Mantis care? It made little sense for them to want it done, and assassination was a coward's move. But, the point still remained that there was plenty of enemies out there for Shizue. 

Mai poured more tea for the Crane Ambassador, and took in the words expressed. She caught that glint in the old woman's eye. It wasn't a flash of anger, no. It was something more... Excited. _Pleased._ Things were getting interesting. 

As the fan opened and went over Rika's mouth, and the sentence, that hypothetical sounded off into the room, Mai only looked at the fan, and took a second to think. Fish in a net, a fisherman bringing in his bounty. Rika was going to get what she wanted, That's how she saw it, no doubt about it. And in her situation, Moshi Mai wasn't in a place to deny it. The real question was, could she go along with it? She was ultimately going to call for the death of someone. Hopefully for the good of the Empire.

Glancing back at the fan, she noticed one fish in particular, stuck in the net. It was barely noticeable, but a single fugu was inside, close to the fisherman's hand as he went to pull in the bounty. A single pinprick could be enough to kill the fisherman. Even with all that bounty, there was still a chance his catch could take the win. 

Mai pulled her own fan out and opened it with a flick, displaying a giant centipede winding around a force of evil entities, breathing fire upon them. It was in danger, but it wriggled out of all perils, and engulfed her foes in holy light. "One might wonder," She said, moving the fan over her mouth, "What task this assassin would need to complete, if such a task could forgive past transgressions... And if such cooperation could lead to benefiting the two Clans that worked together, against all odds and hatreds." 

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Roger
"Do you not find it odd that an Imperial Regent is still in power? Hantei Daisetsu—may his reign be blessed by Tengoku—is past his gempuku, yet still sits behind another. Is this not the very thing it was feared that Scorpion traitor Shoju would have done?" The fan flitted slightly, likely a tremor in the lady's hand. She was not getting any younger after all. The eyes continued to pierce through, as if they could still see the Moshi's face behind the fan.

"Of course, the other option would be to take your previous story of gaijin Mantis allied with Kolat. A tale so ridiculous it must have much truth in it, mind. While the Unicorn have shown us that in moderation the Western gaijin can have their uses, Thrane and Merenae have shown their traitorous blood cannot be contained ever since the first day those filthy dogs entered our lands." Rika lowered her fan and took a drink, nodding her thanks to Mai for refilling her cup. She closed her eyes to savor its warmth. "From there, Champion Doji-san leverages her *Considerable* Political weight to pass an edict scouring the Empire for those with gaijin blood from the eastern peoples.

"Remind me, what dogs do you and your children carry in your veins?" The soft steel in Rika's voice was an undercurrent beneath every word she now stated. Rika had entered her element, the game of the courts, and it was a place of terrifying power. "It would be a travesty to eradicate entire bloodlines because of a single death but, well, you know how deeply our Empire's rightful hatred of gaijin pervades through it. With the right push, such an edict would become a frightening reality.

"The choice as always is yours, Ambassador Moshi-san."

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Keith
"You're not wrong, Doji-sama," Mai replied, "That is rather peculiar. A regent when a Hantei is ready and willing goes against the Celestial Order itself. Someone that spits in the eye of the Kami shouldn't be fit to _live._ Let alone lead the Empire." So, that's what was wanted. It was a very roundabout way to get there, and it was surely a longwinded time of 'ifs' and 'buts' and 'maybe so's', but the request was clear, and it could be done. 

Thus, it made the whole other part entirely unnecessary. Mai's first instinct was to panic, than get angry, then go berserk and make a massive mess of everything. She held that down. The threat against her daughter was disgusting. It almost broke her entirely. 

Instead, she laughed. 

She stifled it at first, and shook her head, trying her best to contain her fit of the chuckles. "Apologies," She said, "But I was just thinking about how easy it would be to snap your neck for daring to threaten my family like that." She chuckled some more, waving away any protest Rika made. " 'Oh, but you couldn't do that, imagine if anyone found out, traitor Mantis acting out once again,' or some such bullshit. You know, maybe your old eyes or ears are too full of dust, but if you couldn't pick up on it, I was already _receptive to what you wanted._ If you Crane weren't so dedicated to playing Court-acceptable Scorpion games and fiddling your own cunts, you might actually get things done, you know that? But no, you have to fool around and do all you can to sound slick and clever. Well, you're very clever, and you've done some very nice scheming. You know my weakness is my children, and you so cleverly stabbed at it. 

"The problem is, that wasn't necessary." 

Mai glared at the woman, no longer laughing or smiling. "If you really had me over a barrel like you've been playing at, you wouldn't have to resort to something like that, would you? Threatening to kill my family, wipe out entire clans and people... Let alone your own ally, the Unicorn? Are you an idiot, or just senile, _obaachan?"_ 

Mai slouched, head in her hand, a snort leaving her. "I know you came in here because your clan's done a horrible job at taking care of business. Your only functioning courtier is a little boy that plays with sticks and bakes all day, and your grand Kakita Duelists die in the street like dogs. No one even knew Kakita Yuzuki was missing until we found her servant in the rain. You want to threaten two great clans with eradication? Fine. I'd love to see you get anyone to take you seriously when you can't even tend your own fucking house.

"So. This roundabout is boring me." Mai loudly flicked her fan open, once again covering her mouth. "It would be best if a Hantei took the throne, as the rightful place. I agree with that. I can take action to help this, and I shall, for the Celestial Order, which you wish as well. For such an act, you should express the Mantis' selflessness in recent times, keeping your brat Adohiro out of trouble and trying to track down the killers of Kakita Arai and Yuzuki. And you should express that you would be most inclined to usher in the Mantis into your Alliance. A Clan that can get _results_ is most welcome. 

"Or, to hell with it. The Mantis can go there own way. I can just find the true assassin, and I can bring them to justice myself. I've slaughtered plenty of Maraeneans in my day, so familiar blood or family names don't matter when a criminal's in mind. Sure, there'll be consequences. There'll be some land returned or some such nonsense; Yoritomo-sama will be mad at me, but it wouldn't be the first time. But, I still come out on top. See, you forgot one thing, _obaachan,_ I can actually track the assassin down. Even if some traitorous Crane hired the assassin, a Mantis will answer a Mantis' call long before the likes of you. So, if you'll just press that fan against your right cheek, I think we can move on to the details." 

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Roger
It was Rika's turn to laugh. A quiet little chuckle, seemingly unmoved by the anger and forceful words of the Mantis before her. Her eyes shone with mirth as the fan became her gesturing aid. "There is no need to lose composure, Moshi-san. I would sincerely never wish such an unseemly event to occur. I state the consequences of lying to the Emperor's Left Hand. It is something any novice Ambassador learns to avoid.

"Now let me cut the so-called roundabout myself. My house is in shambles. There are nearly no Crane samurai in this city worth anything more than marriage tools. It took less than five minutes after my arrival to learn that." She tapped the butt of her fan against the table rhythmically as she spoke, slowly but methodically laying out the state of her own people. "They have done nothing with the winter *Or* Spring in this city, and it makes me sick. Sick enough to agree to work alongside you: honorable enough to show restraint and compassion, vicious enough to get things done. I like that."

Another slow sip of the tea followed, and her fan slowly began to move its way to her right side. The eyes never once looked afraid or concerned. "In winter, you provide the assassin, we provide the cover. In the spring, the Kitsune Mori and surrounding farmland are returned to you. Between now and then, we find a means to play nicely with each other. I am old enough to know I do not have to like another clan to need them, or to work well together.

"However I must say, if you truly think I would *Ever* Be so poor a stateswoman that I lay a hand on our allies in the Unicorn you underestimate the legal powers we bear, as I underestimated the imbecility of my own staff."

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Keith
Mai had won. 

Mai actually had a win. She did her best to hide it, but she really couldn't. Hearing the terms, she in turn closed her fan and touched the right side of her face, saying nothing about it. "We understand each other, then." 

She set the fan down entirely, and returned to her tea. "I apologize for the 'pirate talk,' by the way. I wasn't born to be an ambassador, I was born to bask in the Lady's light on the open sea. So when the threats come out... Well, I'm not the most amicable." 

It was... Bizarre, the way she felt. "You know, Doji-sama? I'm actually looking forward to cooperating with you. From what I could deem from Yoritomo Koichi-sama, we joined the Scorpion strictly because the Crane sided with the Unicorn. The more I worked on keeping the ship afloat, the less I despised the both of you. At the end of the day, dealing with this city, it's become clear it needs new management. Crane, Unicorn, and Mantis. Diplomats from Crane and Unicorn, Military from Unicorn and Mantis, and Mercantile from the lot of us. It could work, don't you think?

"But, as I said in my insults, which I apologize for: your dead Kakita. I meant it when I said I wished to aid on that. Just like our "Winter Problem," These gangs attack the Order itself. So, shall we start our non-aggression by stomping out those that wronged your Clan?"

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Roger
"Oh you worry too much my dear. I've heard threats so vile it would make even you recoil in fear. If I let a little violence dissuade me from task nothing would get done." Rika dismissed the tension with her words. A quiet moment of reflection as Mai spoke her piece. "I could certainly see such an agreement working quite elegantly, Moshi-san.

"So then, let's get to work."

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