Lisa
It was Miu who set foot on the ground of the Crab embassy. In her hand had been a well written and sealed letter, a bit crumpled up as the grand being underestimated her strength ever so often. Normally she'd radiate energy, bring a smile to the conversation and her manes would resonate with that. The only thing grand about her today was her vibrant red hairs. She had looked beyond beaten as the bruise on her jaw and face had frightened anyone, even the crab. 

Miu had been unable to speak and therefore when she went to gesture for an attendant she would show a tiny note *"I wish to seek wisdom from the ambassador"* Her writing demanded for her. But there was no attendant yet. Maybe a guard soon. Miu would be patient. 

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Norma
It would not be long before someone hurried to intercept the thoroughly bruised Lion. A pair of servants, nondescript in their bearing, approached her and took her tiny note. Looking at each other after reading it, there was a moment's hesitation before they bowed and immediately led her inside the main building. If the giant shugenja knew her way around the Crab Embassy, she would realize that she was not being taken to the Ambassador's office. Instead, she would be led in the opposite direction towards Umeo's office. 

Once inside, she would see the walls were lined with different maps. Each one showed a different trade route, or the local imports and exports of a region, or which paths were more dangerous than others. A large desk crafted from dark wood was covered in meticulously arranged stacks of papers and scrolls. The diplomat sitting inside was small for a Crab, but large and solidly built from the perspective of most people. Today, he wore a simple grey kimono accented with a bracelet of jade bells that remained strangely silent. 

Looking up at the beaten Lion as she was escorted in, Umeo frowned. "How may I help you, Kitsu-sama?"

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Lisa
The frown would've been returned. She did not know this man nor had she seen him before. She wished to introduce herself but all she could do was bow down. He knew she was Kitsu so speaking more words than necessary wasn't the case today. *"I apologize."* She barely articulated as the bruise on her face spoke book works. A jaw broken. She seemed in pain but clearly tried to hide it. She would hand him over the note, her letter still in her other hand. Hesitantly she would place it beside the note. 

It was neatly written. *"I wish..."* She paused as the sucking of her teeth exclaimed the pain it caused her. *"Elabor..."* She was hoping he'd hand her a paper right now so she could make clear what she wanted besides the already written statement and notes. 

*"Please."* She asked. 

Why was she trying this again? Because she was mad that's why. She felt left behind, alone, she wanted help but didn't know why. She wanted justice. She wanted a foot to stand on. Something like that. 

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Norma
First, the broad-shouldered merchant slid his instruments of writing across the desk to the badly battered Kitsu. While the shugenja wrote her elaboration, Umeo caught the attention of a servant and asked, "Could you summon the Kuni, please? Tell him that we have need of his medical skills, and prayer may be in order." To the servant's credit, they bowed low and left silently. Miu may not have even seen or noticed them, trained as they were to act like another of the room's furnishings.

After the servant had left, Umeo turned his full attention to the muscular war shugenja. He was interested in what she was going to say... Or at least write.
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Lisa
Miu hadn't given the servant a glance. She would nod her head towards Umeo after he offered her something to write with. Her handwriting was rather elegant compared with what she represented. The words would read *"The letter explains what happened. I am unable to speak due to a battle with an unexpected opponent, it shattered my jaw from what my medical knowledge tells me."* Miu would flip around the paper as her handwriting was big as a matter of fact. 

*"But with the absence of Hida Koyama-dono please go ahead and read it."* She would place down the paper and the writing tools carefully, making sure not to spill ink. 

If Umeo were to open the letter it would explain the field work they had been doing, seeking out a cult, not elaborating too much on the cult part however. The letter wrote how Miu was forced to protect a frozen Hida, first from an attack by the heretics. After that Miu was left alone fighting a bear all by herself, taking damages that hurt not only her physical body but her soul as she is unable to commune with the kami now. She is here because she seeks answers to such behavior. Clearly stating that she felt left behind by the crab clan, unable to take support from their samurai.

Miu would remain silent. Was this enough for her to understand? Was this enough to soothe her anger? 

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Norma
Umeo read the letter, his face controlled. Then, he set the letter down and looked again at the swollen face of the wounded priestess. A shugenja who had been wounded in the line of duty because a Crab failed to do their job, no less. "I see," Was all the man said before pulling out a sheet of paper of his own. This was a problem. Unfortunately, Umeo solved problems. He began to write.

After a few tense moments, he stood with help from his polished black cane. The limping steps were accentuated by the silence of his office. The ornate jade bells around his wrist jingled only slightly as he passed the letter to a servant. Perhaps Miu's hearing was sharp enough to hear Umeo, "*Send this message to the leadership back home. Post it with haste, they'll want to know.*" Then, just as slowly as he walked to the door, he made his way back to his cushion. 

"On behalf of the Crab, I apologize for this lapse in duty. I have set in motion the necessary consequences." His voice was slow and controlled. He was not without emotion, however. This affair was truly unfortunate. He had liked talking to the giant yet somehow fragile gardener, and her own brother should have known better. She had been deemed unfit for battle. She had been given the job of Courtier because all she had left in her was words, damnit! 

"In consideration of the years of complimentary service she performed before the wall broke her spirit, Hida Hikari-san will be given the opportunity to cleanse this shame from her family in the traditional manner. As the offended party, you may make a case for immediate execution... If it is your wish for her family to share her shame as well." As he waited for her answer and the Crab's shugenja to arrive, he slid the pen and a fresh piece to write on to the large Lioness.

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Lisa
Miu undid her bandages ever so slightly, giving her jaw more space. *"I wish not for her family to suffer consequences."* Her speech was muffled, she was struggling but felt like this had to be said in person. A slight sigh in between the words. Miu did not wish for death and such a thing had to be spoken, not written. After all she pitied the crab. The wall had been an honorable duty. 

*"Nor do I wish for her execution. I would not forgive myself if something was caused by bad luck and a shattered mind."* Miu paused again, adjusting her jaw. She did not use it but opening her mouth more made her capable of speaking at least. 

*"But please. Do not put her on the field anymore. Not like this. It is all but fair. Let her retire to the countryside. Let her be your craftsman, let her be of use to prove herself, but never in battle, never in combat."* The shugenja would brush back her hairs. Her golden eyes would speak the truth and truth only. 

*"My wish is for her to retire. Pass on to Yomi of old age. I wish not to dishonor somebody who fought for me on that wall, that happened to be a bit weaker to the mind than expected. Bishamon told me to help the weak find their honor."* Those were the last words Miu spoke before tying down her jaw again. She just wanted answers, an apology, to do what was best. She wanted to trust them again. 

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