Mary
It was Himiko once more just blatantly showing up at the Mantis embassy. Perhaps Moshi Mai should be used to Lions randomly showing up at the door. Was it plainly rude or part of their directness? One could question both. This time it was once more Kitsu Himiko. The young ambassador simply waited at the door. All she could do. She would hold a beautiful bottle in her small hands. Her hairs were braided up in several strands against that turned into a grand poof of hair behind her. Her clothing seemed formal however. She simply waited. Asked an attendant for the presence of Moshi Mai if she had wished to receive her that is. 

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Robert
"I'm here, now what's the matter?" 

Moshi Mai came to the main entrance of the Mantis Embassy, wearing but her modesty wrap around her chest and a quickly donned pair of hakama pants, daisho held in hand. She had been grabbed by Yuji-san, the young servant boy that Moshi Kana had 'hired' for the embassy, along with his family. Why he was up at this hour was beyond Chiyoko, but the boy had went to her directly, saying he saw a 'monster' in the darkness. 

So, the ronin arrived, ready to see what the problem was and cut it down. The two guards at the front seemed rather unnerved, oddly enough. "Oy! You two, is there something there, or not?"

"There's something, Chiyoko-san," One of the guards said. 
"Yeah, but it's just standing there... Menacingly." 

Chiyoko peered out into the dark... And sighed. "You idiots. That's Kitsu Himiko-sama." The ronin stepped out the door and into the dark, and bowed deeply to the young ambassador. "Kitsu Himiko-sama, apologies for the cold welcome. Please, let me know what I can do for you at this hour." 

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Mary
Himiko would bow down to the Ronin. She didn't seem tired. She looked like she just woke up and energized if anything. *"Chiyoko-san. I apologize for suddenly showing up like this."* The young ambassador stated. Beyond the friendly smile grew a more concerned frown. *"I received a letter from Ambassador Moshi-sama. One I wished to address in person, immediately."* The young girl did not directly demand but did so with discretion. She understood if Mai did not have the time for this. But she felt the urge to discuss it anyways. Afraid that something bad had happened.

*"If she's willing to see me I would be beyond grateful. Even at this hour."* The girl said. Bowing down once more. 

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Robert
Chiyōko blinked as the ambassador made her intentions clear. The ronin looked back at the servants that gathered to see the ronin 'slay the monster,' all thinking the same thing:

_'I don't want to wake up Mama Mai.'_ 

"..."
"..."
Chiyōko scanned the crowd, and pointed out Yuji. "Yuji-kun, you're the smallest and least likely to be strangled. Notify Moshi-sama of Kitsu-sama's arrival." The little boy gulled, and hurried off to his fate. "Kitsu-sama, please follow me." 

===

After some time, a very belligerent, very grumpy Moshi Mai arrived at a sitting room that Himiko would be asked to wait in. Mai was unadorned of makeup, her hair a mess, and a more appropriate robe hastily put on. She ignored any bows and took her seat with a grunt. 

"...It is late, for a woman like me, Kitsu-san. Care to explain?" 

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Mary
Himiko sat there. She would bow anyways even though Mai had not felt like it. *"Moshi-sama. I apologize for demolishing your slumber."* It was clear Himiko was aware of what she did but also seemed sorry for it. She would take the letter written earlier by the Ambassador. She would fold it out. 

*"What has occurred?"* Himiko seemed determined to know what happened. *"Not to dishonor you but I had no intentions in even attempting to convince you to start an alliance with the lion. It would be blatantly stupid to ask as the two of us only met several weeks ago. The unicorn is an honorable ally and what has the Lion done for you to even consider us an ally?"* Himiko cleared the air. 

*"My Ikoma acted on their own beliefs. Behind my back."* The young Kitsu did not seem angered but moreover irritated. She would bow down and offer the gift of an old sake bottle filled with a very expensive sake as well. *"I apologize for her sudden visit, I apologize for my sudden visit and I hope this will compromise with the lack of sleep I caused."* 

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Robert
Mai rubbed her eyes a bit as Himiko gave her apologies for the late visit, and since she seemed to be actually upset about the move, Mai preemptively decided to try and be nice about it. Surely there was a reason behind it. 

And that became clear when the young ambassador apologized for the actions of Ikoma Kazuyo. "Oh, right. _Her."_ Mai narrowed her already narrowing eyes, remembering that little upstart and her bold plans and (almost) demands. "No offense is taken from _you,_ Kistu-sama, but your bard overstepped her bounds by quite a bit in poor form. To ask me to renege on my dealings on the whim that the Lion would give me more than the Unicorn, all while having nothing to bring to the table? Hardly a smart move. _Arrogant,_ I would say."

"But, I will admonish you, all the same, Kitsu Himiko, for being a _weak ambassador."_ Mai looked Himiko dead in her apologetic eyes, as if she was scolding one of her children. "You are the _ambassador,_ and you represent one of the Great Clans of our Empire. You can't have your own men making plans behind your back, and you can't come rushing to apologize with a bottle of booze and call it a night. If it were any of _my_ Samurai, doing such things behind my back, they'd be in no shape to ever do so again, for they would be beaten to a pulp or __dead."__ 

Mai let those words sit for a moment, before she softened her tone and gaze. "Pour us a drink, Kitsu-sama," She sighed. "Now, listen to me: As I told Ikoma-san, I will not be reneging on my dealings with those I wish to ally with. The Lion and the Unicorn and Crane have not been allies in many ways, and the grudges hold strong, and if I am being honest, the Lion will not take the city. Unless they intend to do so by force, at which they'll be going against the will of the Emperor's family. If I were you, I'd be getting ready to deal with the Unicorn and the Crane... Or, you can learn to work with _the Mantis._ That is the same advice I gave your bard. The Mantis can be your middleman, to make sure your Clan gets what it needs without letting tempers flare up."
Mary
Himiko looked at Mai as she did not speak a word. After all it was only polite to let her speak every word on her mind. She wanted to retaliate with answers and reasoning but realized deeds had been done and judgement had been made already by the woman. She did not break eye contact nor started to show any form of sadness or a sign of being offended. After all these words were true. 

In silence she poured Mai a drink, then herself as she put them down. She did so in proper etiquette. She would nod. It was her time to speak. *" I could not send an Ikoma to apologize for the actions of one of my samurai. The true reason I found out she is going behind my back was your letter after all. Hence I wanted to thank you for it. But I feared for damage done by a stupidly yet unrightful proud Ikoma."* That's all Himiko had to say to that. She was not weak, she did not imply the bottle as an apology, more as a soothing method for showing up at these hours. She paused her speaking. Nothing changed in the stoic expression the once joyful child had displayed. 

*"I would like to take up your offer on that. However tell me, what do you want in return? Much like you said what exactly does the Mantis gain from helping us when the Unicorn is a much more suitable ally for you than we are."* Himiko would tilt her head a bit. Considering ways to punish the ikoma, break her legs, no her soul, stitch her mouth closed so no harm could be done, take her tongue. Himiko was filled with rage. 

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Robert
Mai simmered, but she didn't boil over. As much as Himiko was trying to convince her otherwise, Mai saw it differently. Himiko was weak in her role. Not that she couldn't come around and make wise moves, but it was clear she needed a push. 

But Himiko's question was a good one: What did the Mantis want in return? 

"The Mantis don't need a thing, honestly. _I_ want to go back to Kyuden Moshi and retire. The Mantis want land and recognition, which we will gain from our alliance. But the one thing the Lion can give me, and better yet the city, is peace."

"Kitsu Himiko, I would want the Lion to withdraw their plans of trying to claim the city against the Unicorn. If you look at your options against them, you have the Crab and Dragon, who refuse to take sides, the Scorpion, who will say yes as long as it takes to get what they want, and the Phoenix, who hate the unicorn so much, they're falling into same trap the Mantis did when we first arrived in the city."

Mai sipped the sake, and let the proposal stand. "Choose neutrality, and I will make certain that your drive for peace and order is repaid with generosity. The Unicorn are fairer than their enemies make them out to be. It'd be better to be on good terms than sour ones, when they take the city.

"But, that is what I think, Kitsu-sama. As your elder, I am just giving the advice I would give my daughter, if she was in your situation. But in the end, follow your own heart and own decisions. Just make certain your men follow the same path, as well." 

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Mary
*"Consider it a deal."* Himiko looked at Mai. Somehow she had managed to look more seriously than she had before. That or it was the exhaust that hit the young one who was way past up her bedtime. She had watched Mai drink the sake. Then glanced over to her own full glass. Right here she had to swallow her pride, their pride. The Lion would be furious to hear Himiko so easily giving up on something so many wanted. Not that they ever stood a chance. Mai was right about their allies and currently they had none, just the handouts of what the clans were willing to give them. The silence remained as the Kitsu became more at ease. Taking a sip of the sake. 

*"But that deal does not mean we will obey everything the Unicorn expects from us. We are a clan on our own, we will respect others but we are one to think for ourselves as well."* Those words were what Himiko still wanted to share. She felt pity for the Mantis who got wedged into this and all she wanted to do was retire. This was not to notice on her tone and behavior however. She made eye contact for the briefest moments as she then turned back to looking at her surroundings. She would clearly feel some tension leave as her posture turned to a more relaxed one. She would take another sip. 

She did not speak any longer. She was angry with Mai as well. Calling her weak made her feel like launching her sandal at her head. She had not acted upon that thought however. 

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Robert
"Kitsu Himiko-sama, of the great and powerful Lion Clan, please don't think that I am not aware of the pride of the right hand of the Empire." Moshi Mai knew well enough that the Lion could hold a grudge, so it was always best to smooth things over. Talk up the ambassador. As a mother, she knew how to put enough sweetness with the medicine so it went down smoothly. 

"Your clan has served since the beginning, and trains some of the grandest soldiers in the realm. It's not a matter of being weak, just ill-suited for this foul city. The Unicorn have alien ways and a culture that tows the line that most Crane would be appalled by. The Scorpion have always been willing to dishonor themselves for the greater good. We Mantis have a bad reputation, and we're foolhardy enough to push our luck on the river trade. But the Lion Clan are a clan that holds Honor over all things. There is no honor in Ryoko Owari Toshi. It would be a stain on your honorable pedigree, if you think about it."

Mai smiled, and chanced a more personable move. She reached over the table, and attempted to place a hand on Himiko's shoulder. "Trust me," She said, "Leave this dishonorable place to the gaijin-blooded and the backstabbing. If you still wish to fight the Unicorn, do it in summer, on the open plains as an honorable clan should. Don't sully your brilliant light in the darkness here."
Mary
*" I cannot disagree with that statement."* Himiko said upon this city being one of dishonor. She had felt it, she hated it here but somehow managed to slip by with words when one asked her perspective on this damned city. Himiko watched her hand reach out, a normal response of hers would be to flinch, a twitch of her eye would reveal the reflex, but Himiko did not follow through. She accepted the hand on her shoulder. Of course there was something in it for the Mantis, but Himiko did not want them as enemies, not when they could grant them supplies to survive. 

*"We have managed to stay tolerant with the Unicorn for this long, I suppose till summer would not hurt anyone."* With that Himiko settled. She had felt bad for barging in like she did. A strange habit she and Miu had, yet never was it punished. She remained silent for a moment. 

*"What is Kyuden Moshi like?"* Himiko was a stranger to many places but wished to learn. She wanted to let go of the tension. She made her apologies, Mai made her statement and she wished to ask many things related to how to be a good leader but she felt that now was not a good time. 

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