Jeffery
Tomura was currently in the garden of the Shosuro palace, his kitten Baka was playing with a ball of string at his feet as he sat on a bench. The young scorpion was getting familiar with his new home, already learning the faces and names of the servants, memorizing halls in order to plan emergency exists. 

He was wearing his fox mask, fully covering his face, all black save for red features around the eyes and in a grin at the mouth. He wore a crimson red kimono and a black haori with the Bayushi mon on the back. Other then playing with his cat, he held a book in his hand and chuckled as he read it.
Rusty
A furious tirade could be heard in the distance, an angry voice raised in reproach. Judging by the uninterrupted flow of words this was probably not a quarrel but rather a scolding, and the hasty footsteps that retreated down the hall on the other side of the paper wall probably implied the retreat of the servant. 

The scolding subsided into angry muttering, which grew closer as small feet stomped up the hall. It wasn't until Kaori came to the door that let her into the common area that she paused to compose herself, then glided out as silent and serene as a black swan. Her face seemed curiously naked without a mask, her mouth pulled into a perpetual smirk by a scar that puckered her right cheek. Her hands were folded serenely. A keen eye might note a slightly elevated breath rate, but otherwise there was no sign of the shrew. 

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Jeffery
Tomura rasied his head from his book at the noise, it was a rather loud ruckus, however he didn't wish to impose so rather then say anything he simply looked to the woman, breathtaking to be sure but also, despite a lack of mask, one of his Clan, thus more then likely dangerous. He did however offer a polite nod

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Rusty
Returning the nod with a regal gesture Kaori carefully skirted around the cat. She had mixed feelings about the beasts. On the one hand they killed vermin and bathed fastidiously. On the other hand, so did burakumin. She did enjoy their arrogant body language, it was somehow familiar, but their hair had a nasty habit of clinging to her skirts when she didn't dust off her cushions often enough. 

"Cousin," She greeted, reading his mon accurately. "You are a new face in this palace. I have not had the pleasure before. Is that your, ah, thing?" She indicated the cat delicately. 

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Jeffery
Tomura put down his book and nodded to the women, observing her atitude for Baka. He looked to her with his fox mask and gave a smile underneath it.

"I have only just arrived into the city cousin, my first posting after my Gempuku, and yes Baka is my pet, I have learned that turtles however are the companion of choice." He chuckled before standing up and giving a deferential bow, "Bayushi Tomura, formerly of Chuuou province." He introduced himself, "I'm a courtier of the manipulator school."

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Rusty
"Bayushi Kaori," She returned the bow and flicked her hair back. "I have heard excellent things of the manipulator school. My weapon is the katana, when my arm is in form." 

Said arm was drawn into her outer Kimono, her sleeve pinned neatly. Her left hand produced a fan and idly toyed with it. "Have you been to our estate then? Or will you be living here in the palace? I do love the games of court, but after a day's excitement I prefer the quiet of the Bayushi manor."

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Jeffery
Tomura knew better then to ask about the arm, but made a mental note of it.

"I have not had the pleasure of visiting the estate yet, I have already been given board within the palace walls, but I would love to be among kin in this new environment, I should make a point to stop by sometime." He said, taking his book and looking it over, "Already I've found the market has some treasures that many would look over," That really was just an erotica novel, "But yes, Yuto-san has expressed that he thinks I'll be used best in court in dealing with the other Clans, I've been told of our situation." He said, some concern in his voice, "My wit is at the disposal of the clan, if you have any task for me, do not hesitate to put me to use."
Rusty
"I stay out of the great games of court and politics," Kaori shrugged. "My duty is to look beautiful and imply the benefits of an alliance. Occasionally I swing a sword if your tongue gets you into too much trouble, but I ask that you refrain from provoking duels till the start of summer."

She flexed the fingers of her right hand. 

"Do you have a yojimbo of your own? In our city it seems courtiers have little need for constant bodyguards, but if you need an escort for any diplomatic missions I can give you an excellent recommendation."

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Jeffery
He nodded as he followed her words, seemd Kaori-san was both honeypot and dagger, someone not to anger. He chuckled at the mention of dueling.

"If my words provoke a duel without intent, then I have failed in my duty... That and dueling was never something I had much skill with, I was sickly as a child and my parents where informed I would not last the night when I was born, thus my direction to the life of court." He shrugged, "While I have two bushi who accompanied me from home, I alas do not have a dedicated protector, your recomendations would be most welcomed." 

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Rusty
"For your daily protection I recommend making a friend out of Rokugo Yuto," The little Scorpion said without hesitation. "His physical presence is a good deterrent, and despite his demeanor he is a ferocious warrior. He nearly took my head off during the dueling tournament. I've seen him kill before. Be his friend and you will be the safest person in the city."

She nodded sagely. "And the key to that is easy, if you can bear to show interest in that horrible reptile he consorts with. I do not speak metaphorically, he has a..." She gestured, "A *Thing* He carries about as a pet."

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Jeffery
"Yuto-san was the first person I met and the one who escorted me to the palace, his disposition was... Diffrent then I expected from a magistrate of our clan, but most welcomed considering our current position..." He rubbed the back of his head at mention of the turtle, "Yes, when I asked if pets where permitted in the palace, he asked me what kind it was and said 'it must be a turtle', he seems... Captivated with the species." He said as dimplomatically as he could, "If I may ask, a day ago I ran into a Mantis who seeemd to allude to some buisness that was 'settled' between our Clans, what happened on that front and is it anything we should continue to be concerned with, I'm still making all the connections in my head about the local political theatre."

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Rusty
"I have personal knowledge of the Mantis's ideas of discretion," Kaori's soft lip curled in disgust. "Their ambassador is a vindictive serpent. I would trust her no farther than I could kick her. I am on good terms with one of their shugenja, Moshi Kana, but I despise that clan as a whole and I would be sorry to see us ally with them again. Keep your dealings with them strictly transactional and legal."

She sighed. "A shame, on the surface it would seem a good match with us. But I think my project over the winter will be to root out and destroy their underhanded business interests."

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Jeffery
He nodded, already putting the Mantis in 'thorne in the side' category of his mind.

"The encounter was on their pleasure barge, one of the bushi struck up a conversation, a shame, the establishment was a nice one." He mused, "I've already begun planning my own project, not directed at the other Clans but towards the commoners, the hearts and minds of the general population can be a wonderful tool when used right." He smirked under his mask, "But yes, best *We* Control any underworld buisnesses, who better then the Underhand of the Emperor." He said conspiratorially. 
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Rusty
"Ho ho, such funny jokes," Kaori said dryly while making a pointed gesture to remind this newcomer of where they were. Anyone could be listening in the palace. "But this is a serious place, where such things might be misunderstood by those who do not appreciate your wit." 

The cat came towards her and she carefully side stepped. "I am glad to hear you are so devoted to the plights of the common people though," She added. "Even in this city there are those who struggle. Your patronage will be a blessing." 

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Jeffery
He shrugged when the joke landed flat, "People often like to grasp at ghosts where their are none, I'll keep in mind to be less humorous around such dignified persons." He reached down to pick up his cat, holding the kitten in his arms.

"Yes, it is our duty to be their stewards after all, some like to forget who really suffers in their pointless wars, so I think I'll direct some resources to aid the Heimin... And if there are any who would not mind... Getting their hands dirty, prehaps even distribute food to the most needy of the Hinin." He said, "For even though they are the lowest, they still have their place in the divine order do they not?" *And how grateful they will be the hands that feeds* He thought 
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Rusty
The little scorpion blinked slowly. *Are we now putting on a show for potential evesdroppers? Very well, I shall play along.* 

"I think that is an excellent idea," She said aloud. "Nothing is more merciful than lifting people above their Divine Reward. I am sure you will find no shortage of volunteers." 

*It isn't blasphemy if it's intended to deceive right?* 

"My sister is a priestess here in the city. I'm sure she has contacts and acquaintances that could facilitate your idea. Perhaps she would even know of a good pool to draw your volunteers from." 

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Jeffery
Tomura nodded, grinning under his mask.

"Excellent, I look forward to meeting her then." He chuckled, "It is mercy that a lord should give their subjects, for in turn those subjects will not want to lose said lord... Would they?" He smirked under his mask, "People could be driven to many acts if they felt something that's good to them is threatened, I just don't want to see them become... Restless." The smirk under his mask became almost sinster

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Rusty
Kaori couldn't see the point of letting commoners think they had an opinion, but there seemed to be a new school of thought coming out of the Manipulator School. *First Junichi and now him?* Shrugging, she said, "Do you think that it's wise to do so now, before we actually regain the city? I would hate for your hard work to go to the glory of someone else." 

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Jeffery
"The key would be making it not something that goes to the city government, but the benevolence of an individual patron." He shrugged, "Of course it will also serve to remind them that we're the reason they do so well, without us..." He shrugged, "They need us, we'll just remind them of that fact." He said, and is tone conveyed his thought of what it is 'they need us and if they think they can prosper without us, then we'll prove them wrong', "Nothing, not even good chairty, is ever done without consideration of it's effects." 

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Rusty
"Well, I will watch your process with great interest," The little Scorpion said. "I would be delighted to see your process in that area."

She drew her fan and fluttered it gently. "Oh, have you been out on the water yet? As the season gets warmer I find that the river can be a source of relief. I'd be delighted to keep you company out there sometime."

*We need to talk safely.*

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Jeffery
He nodded and gave a light bow.

"I have always been a fan of the water, I would be honored for your company." He said, *Understood*, he looked over the palace, despite Yuto's assurances, seems it's not as safe as he could be. "If I may ask someone whose wiser in the ways of our locale, would you recommend any good places for purchasing books or even the simple pleasure of a good bath house, I've always enjoyed a nice cleansing soak now and then, and I find that with a good novel is heavenly."
Rusty
"There are a few good bookstores in the merchant district, though I can only speak for their lighter material," Kaori gave the name of two different establishments. "But we do have the most excellent of bath houses. It is located at the Scorpion Gardens, they have private and mixed pools, hot stone massages, and occasionally the *Special* Event." The lecherous smile suggested the nature of those events. "I go every day. But as to our river excursion, I will let you know when I am free next, and we will make a half day of it."

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Jeffery
He chuckled at the mention of *Special events*.

"Thank you for the recommendations, I'll be sure to check both of them and the Gardens later." He gave a short bow, "I shall with anticipation for the river, I look forward to working with you and serving the Scorpion faithfully, it's a blessing to find such welcoming kin in this new home."

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Rusty
"The blessing is mine, I have no doubt," Kaori gave a bow. "But you must excuse me, dear cousin, as I have to go scream and curse at a Mantis for half an hour and I must prepare my voice."

She indicated her wounded arm. "It always rains at the Bayushi estate around this time of the day, this day of the week, so bear that in mind when you decide where to lodge. Be well, Bayushi-san."

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Jeffery
"I find the rain calming... Mayhaps I will choose to relocate to the estate." He mused, "I pray for your speedy recovery, untill next time Bayushi-san." He nodded before taking his cat and book and heading off
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