Shelly
Kakita Kiyoko squared her shoulders as she approached the Crane embassy. She was thankful that Bayushi no Rokugo Yuto had made sure she did not get lost on the way, but just as thankful to be at the end of her journey (her **Ryoko Owari**—Journey's End—as she told herself, secretly pleased with the play on words). 

"State your business with the Crane Clan." An ashigaru challenged her as she approached, if only for formality's sake. A fairly attractive woman of porcelain complexion and an athletic figure, with a distinctive beauty mark to the right of her chin, Kiyoko wore a new, well-made kimono and haori in shades of blue, which marked her as a Crane herself, even beyond the chin-length layered bob of platinum hair she sported.

"Kakita Kiyoko, reporting for assignment," She replied. The ashigaru offered a bow with military precision, and motioned to a compatriot nearby to open the gate.

"We have been expecting you, Kakita-san. Someone will meet you at the main house," The man replied, motioning for her to enter. The Kakita samurai-ko offered a shallow bow of her own, as befitting her station relative to his, and stepped inside. A short walk up the path, and she paused before the sliding doors leading to the main house.
The door slid open with a soft hiss, and Kiyoko stepped inside, calling to any who may have been near the entrance, "Pardon the intrusion."

She removed her zori sandals and set them aside, and stepped up into the room proper. No one greeted her as she entered, so she took a look around at the wall scrolls and displays with which the room had been decorated. Someone would find her soon enough, but there was no rush.

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Sean
Adohiro was assigned to meet with someone. He was surprised he was picked to meet up with them. When he saw the name, he had not recognized who it was. While he definitely knew a lots, there still were some people he still didn't recognize. Giving a small smile he would soon hear a ashigaru report the crane just arrived. He would thank the ashigaru and he made his way down the halls. He had no idea when the crane was arriving so he was in one of the the rooms in the far back. He began to make his way down and he soon discovered the pale crane. "Hello, Kakita-san ." The white haired crane greeted almost forgetting her surname. He was just told about this last night. He saw she was just looking around at the displayed scrolls and stuff. "Those scrolls are interesting. I think some copies of them are in the library."
Shelly
Kiyoko turned at Adohiro's approach. In an instant, she had sized him up—nearly a foot shorter than her; small and unassuming; white hair similar to her own, but eyes even more devoid of color than her own blue ones. He did not look like much of a bushi, if he was one at all. He seemed hardly more than a child. The Kakita samurai-ko turned her gaze to look at the wall scroll he pointed out. Her only comment on the wall scroll, which bore calligraphy of the Bushido virtue 'Courtesy' (Rei), was a nonverbal noise, neutral in its critique of the artist's sensibilities. "Mmn."

She turned back to the boy and said, by way of introduction, "I assume you are the reception party. I am Kakita Kiyoko. And you are...?"

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Sean
Adohiro definitely did not like a typical reception party at all. He noticed the crane had white hair too, similar to his. He gives a small smile as he greeted her. When he heard her introduction, he'd state his name. "I am Daidoji Adohiro." He smiled with a bow. "Alright so, should I take you to the tea room?" He asked. It would be better than standing here definitely. Adohiro personally disliked formal meetings, he much preferred informal meetings but formal wasn't too bad.
Shelly
"Is that where I am to sleep?" Kiyoko asked drily. She had been assigned to the embassy here, so she could only assume that they were providing *Some* Form of living arrangement. A futon in a tea house out back wouldn't entirely faze her, but she couldn't imagine the Crane Ambassador would have thought quite so lowly of a daughter of House Kakita. On the other hand, one usually was shown around after arriving. Surely the tea house was merely the first stop.

"Hm. Alright. Is that part of the tour of the grounds?"
Sean
He gives a nod. "I thought I'd show you around the embassy for a small tour before we take you to your private room that includes a private garden too." He spoke. "Unless you would like to rest first." He said. He didn't mind letting her rest first. He wouldn't mind waiting at all even thought he rather get the tour over with.
Shelly
A private garden? That was a far cry from the accommodations the Kakita samurai-ko had experienced for the past six years of her *Musha shugyo*, her warrior-pilgrimage. She nodded to Adohiro. "The tour is fine. I am not tired, nor do I have many belongings to lay aside." In fact, all she had brought with her were her *Daisho*, the kimono and haori she wore, and an *Inro* Belt pouch with a *Netsuke* Of a cat's head carved from cherry wood. The rest, no doubt the embassy itself could provide.
Sean
He heard she wasn't tired so he decided to give the tour. He reached the tearoom which was a simple room that had nice decorations. There was some teapots and tea cups presented nicely. "Well here is the tea room. Would you like tea before we resume the tour?" He asked.
Shelly
Kiyoko shook her head. "Some other time." She did pause to note the care with which the tea implements were kept, and the wall scroll and other furnishings in the room. The Kakita samurai-ko looked back to Adohiro, studying him.

"How long have you been here, Daidoji-san?" She asked.

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Sean
The room was average, but it had a nice homely feel to the room. He gives a look around the place quietly. He then heard her question. "Hmm, well work-wise, Matsu-San? About 2 years ago if I'm counting it right." He said. "But I've been a crane for most of my life." He shrugged.
Shelly
Matsu-san? Surely she was at least an Akodo, the Kakita bushi thought to herself. They had sword saints, after all. She had sparred with an Akodo kensai once, a couple of years ago—he was a master of his craft, and so even though she had lost, she had learned a lot from him.

Kiyoko furrowed her brows and gave Adohiro a questioning look. "You were not born to the Daidoji?" She asked, a note of confusion in her voice.
Sean
I didn't know how to word it  😂😂

I'm not suppose to say his heritage but it's hard to not say it

"I'm adopted." The crane smiled giving a small bow. He knew he couldn't tell people his true backstory. Usually he was told to just say he was adopted and not mention his biological family. "Well, is there anything else? I can show you the gardens around crane embassy"
Shelly
"Ah." Kiyoko said simply, then shook her head in response to his question. She didn't press him further about his adoption, instead stepping back out of the tearoom and motioning down the hallway. "The gardens is fine."

A short pause, and she added, "Actually, is there a servants' entrance to the embassy? Or another way into the embassy besides the main gate?"
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Sean
He gives a nod when she agreed to go to the gardens. He soon heard her ask about the servant's entry way. "Yeah there is an entrance for servants on the left side of the embassy, Kakita-San." He told her. He started to lead her to the garden. "There is a back exit in the garden that leads to the servant's entrance." He mentioned.
Shelly
Kiyoko nodded silently, and followed after Adohiro. She figured she should know the layout of the embassy grounds well enough to defend it, if needed—though she expected she would likely see more combat as a duelist than in defending the embassy. As they walked, she observed their surroundings. Trees, bushes, places where someone might be able to hide and sneak in—the height of the walls, and the roofs of the nearby buildings.

"What has happened around the embassy in the past few weeks? Anything unusual?" Surely in a place like the City of Lies, the life of an embassy guard would not be *Dull*.
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Sean
He gives a glance as he saw the garden before them. The garden was nice and it looked well kept by the servants. There was a small sitting area and some nice flowers. When he heard her question, he turned his head. "Well I heard from some servants's gossips that something got stolen. It was something important but I can't think of what it was. I wasn't told of the item.
Shelly
Somehow, Kiyoko wasn't surprised that Adohiro wasn't told what had been stolen. There just seemed to be something *Off* About the Daidoji boy. "I see."

Kiyoko gave Adohiro a side-eyed look and advanced into the garden. She would definitely have to see about getting someone else to tell her about current events later. Maybe the ambassador, when she reported to him. The Kakita samurai-ko took note of the bonsai trees and manicured bushes in the garden with an approving nod of her head, then turned back to Adohiro.

"What do you do here at the embassy, Daidoji-san?"
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Sean
Of course he hadn't been told of the item. He only knew it was some important item, he thought it was a book or some relic they have. He was less likely to be told of the stolen item. "If you're interested in the item that was stolen, you'll want to talk to the ambassador, Kakita-San." He said. When he heard the question, he would open his mouth to state his profession. "I am a Yoriki to Daidoji Aihara. I help do investigations and that sort of stuff." He explained. "I mainly just investigate reports and other clerical type duties if needed." He said.
Shelly
"Mmn. Yes, it would seem so," Kiyoko replied. So he was a yoriki. A magistrate's assistant. The Kakita duelist still was not entirely sure what her own position within the embassy would be, though that hardly concerned her at the moment. "So what are you investigating *Now*?"

She started walking out of the garden, hoping that he would take the lead on their tour again. "They do not have you investigating the theft, so perhaps other things have happened that merit a yoriki's attention?"
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Sean
He gives a curt nod as he heard her ask. "Well right now I just take any citizen's reports and follow through. Today was a lucky day so there wasn't much reports. Usually it's nothing serious. If it is serious, then I do need to contact higher ups but usually it's simple thefts." He explained. He led her out of the garden and to the library. "Here is the library." He stated. "Some of the more important scrolls you'll need to ask for." He said.
Shelly
Kiyoko followed the Daidoji boy out of the garden and into the library. Rolled-up scrolls were piled up throughout the room, making the Kakita samurai-ko wonder whether anyone had thought to organize the library in the past year. Probably not. 

"Who keeps the important ones?" She asked. She took a few steps farther into the library, looking around at its piles of scrolls. She wondered how anyone could even figure out which scroll was which.

As a bushi, it was hardly her concern, though.
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Sean
The smell of old paper and ink was strong. It was a nice smell within the library that had many scrolls piled around. "I think it's kept in a separate room by the magistrate's trusted people. I think depending on the book, you need to ask the magistrate for permission to access it." He said. "It depends on the scroll. I know there's specific rules for it like not sharing it with others and all that sort." He said.
Shelly
"Mmn," Kiyoko murmured noncommittally. "I assume the magistrate and any others that use the library have the sense not to leave truly important documents lying around." The Kakita samurai-ko pulled one scroll out of a pile at random. The rest of the pile toppled and rolled onto the floor with a clatter, which Kiyoko did her best to pretend did she did not hear.

"Hm. *Sei's Diary: The Life & Times of an Imperial Courtier in Otosan Uchi*. A pillow book." She read aloud the first few sentences, then rolled the scroll back up and tossed it onto the table along with the few others that remained there of its pile. 

"Fascinating," She said drily.

||
Sean
He gives a nod of agreement. "Yeah makes sense. I guess some books aren't meant for some clan members too if they're super important. I wonder if we have any high classified information that's in the ambassador's office." He said. He saw her pick up a scroll and read it. He gives a glance at the book once it was tossed. "Hmm, there is a library card for this place so you'd need to get one." He explained.
Shelly
Kiyoko raised an eyebrow at Adohiro. A library card? "Mmn. I'll pass."

She stepped over the pile of scrolls on the floor, pretending not to notice them, and moved toward the door. Truth be told, books did hold *Some* Interest for her, but she was hardly in the mood to rifle through court diaries and tell-all memoirs at the moment.
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Sean
Adohiro saw her rise ever eyebrow at a library card. "It's nice to have because you just write down your name and the scrolls you took. It's quick and easy." He said with a small smile at the nice organization skill the Cranes had. "Shall we move on to the next location."
Shelly
Kiyoko nodded as she moved back into the hallway. "By all means, Daidoji-san." The boy's unflappableness was actually starting to irritate her a little. She glanced back at Adohiro as he joined her in the hallway. A small part of her wondered just what it would take to get a reaction from him. It probably wasn't worth pursuing yet... But still, it might be worth finding out.
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Sean
The crane would give a nod as he led her to the next location which was the living room type area. It almost resembled the waiting room but it was more homely. "Well, this is just a place to relax in." He said. "It has a little garden out back and it's pretty nice when there's a breeze." He said.
Shelly
Kiyoko dutifully followed the Daidoji boy, pondering the shape of his head from behind. When he happened to glance back at her, she made a point of averting her eyes to one of the spartan decorations in the hallway. Coming out into the wider space of the 'living room,' such as it was, she swept the entire room with a glance. Bare tatami mats lined the floor, and a pair of *Zabuton* Sitting cushions sat next to a low-lying table. It was about what she would expect of a living room. She looked at Adohiro.

"Is it always this empty?"
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Sean
The room was very simple as he made his stop there. The room was clean and there was an incense stick still burning. When he heard her question, he gives a nod. "I guess it depends on the activities of the day." He remarked. "Sometimes it busy when we have guests who arrive here." He said. "It's sometimes used as an unofficial meeting place." He pointed out giving a glance at the zabuton cushions that looked clean and were neatly placed on the floor. "It would be a good study room."
Shelly
"I see," Kiyoko replied, looking the room over one more time. She stepped out of one of the sets of sliding doors onto the veranda and looked over the garden. It was small, as Adohiro had said. Still, the koi in the small pond were a nice touch. So was the wisteria tree, and the handful of shrubberies. It reminded Kiyoko a little of her parents' estate back in Mura Sabishii Toshi.

The Kakita duelist turned and headed back inside. She frowned as she realized she was starting to get hungry. "What time is it?" She asked Adohiro.

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Sean
He watched her check out the garden. It was nothing special but it added a nice addition to the room. He soon heard Kakita ask what time it was. He estimated it was lunch time at least. "It's around lunchtime." He explained. "Want to get something to eat or eat here?" He asked. There was food served here usually.
Shelly
Kiyoko shrugged. "There is a mess hall here, yes?" May as well get the tour over with in the process. If she was lucky, maybe they'd have *Katsudon-buri* Or *Okonomiyaki* Or, really, anything other than rice on the menu.

The Kakita samurai-ko motioned for Adohiro to lead the way.
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Sean
Adohiro gives a nod hearing her mention the mess hall. "There is. I can show you." He turned around guiding her through the many halls and soon to a place that smelled strongly of cooked food. It smelled so good, it seemed almost overpowering. "Here is it." He said. "Their curry here is the best." He mentioned.
Shelly
Kiyoko dutifully followed after her erstwhile tour guide to the mess hall. "I smell grilled fish," She said, looking around at the large hall. A number of samurai sat cross-legged on the floor at small single-person tray-like tables in a U-shape around the edges of the room, quietly conversing as they ate. Their trays each had a bowl piled high with rice, along with box-like plates with grilled fish, steamed vegetables, and small slices of ginger to cleanse the palate. At the opening of the U-shape, a collection of servants bustled back and forth from a number of pots with additional bowls in hand.

"Do we sit anywhere?" Kiyoko asked Adohiro, looking around for an empty tray-table.

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Sean
Adohiro led her to the room where people already were eating at. He didn't think it was lunchtime yet. He heard her ask if they can sit down anywhere and he gives a nod. He sat at an empty tray table, gesturing her over. "I don't really eat here." He said. He also wasn't a big fan of fish. Poultry was definitely better.
Shelly
Kiyoko sat down at a tray-table adjacent to Adohiro, removing her daisho and setting it to her right side. She gave Adohiro a curious look as she caught the eye of an approaching servant. "Where does Daidoji-san usually eat?" She asked, nodding her thanks to the servant as he placed a small pot of tea, a cup, and a bowl of rice on her tray-table. The Kakita duelist clapped her hands together quietly and briefly bowed her head—best to at least offer the forms of respect to the kami, in case one were paying attention. 

She then picked up a pair of chopsticks in one hand and the bowl of rice in the other, and tried to remember her lessons on table etiquette from her youth spent at the Kakita Dueling Academy. One ate with one's right hand, and never mixed one's food, she recalled with some effort. Kiyoko started eating, thus self-advised.

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Sean
He sits down and he noticed the approaching servant. He heard Kiyoko ask where he ate. "Hmm, if time permits, I like to cook my own meals. I like making my own meals or I eat out if I'm with company or vice verse." He said. Adohiro would get the meal too and he thanked the servant. He would also clap his hands and bow his head like her. After thanking the Kami, he would start to eat with his chopsticks. "What about you, Kakita-san? Where do you usually eat?" He asked wondering if she had a place she liked to go or did she cook her own meals? 

He ate the rice and vegetables, but seemed to be avoiding the fish.
Shelly
Kiyoko swallowed her latest mouthful of rice and then used her chopsticks to cut a portion of the grilled fish off, and ate it. "Whatever is served to me," She replied to Adohiro. The Kakita duelist had been on a *Musha shugyo*, a warrior-pilgrimage, for the past six years. Up until a few weeks ago, she was eking out an existence as meager as a ronin's, so she had long ago learned not to be *Too* Picky about her food.

"But if I have a choice... An *Izakaya* Is good. *Unagi* Is good," She said after a short pause, referencing a traditional style of inn and a dish of cooked fresh-water eel, respectively.

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Sean
He would eat his rice and ate about half of his fish. After that, he didn't touch the fish after. He heard she ate whatever was served to her which made sense. He did hear she liked izakaya and unagi. "Well we should eat those sometime next time we meet up again." He mentioned. Eating out was nice, albeit expensive but it was worth it. "I like sweets too. Those confectioneries are delicious they sell at the market."
Shelly
"What is your favorite? Manjuu? Sakuramochi?" Kiyoko asked the Daidoji boy between bites of fish. She paused to take a sip of her tea and glanced over at Adohiro, noting that he had stopped eating the grilled fish. "Do you not like fish?" She asked, brows furrowed. How could a Crane samurai *Not* Like fish?

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Sean
"Hmm maybe Sakuramochi and Dorayaki." He said with a small smile. Adohiro only ate half of the fish, but not the rest. When he heard Kakita's question, he looked up. "I prefer chicken or pork." He spoke. "Fish is alright but I like it with different sauces at least." He pointed out.
Shelly
"Mmn." Kiyoko finished off her food and tea without further comment, then clasped her hands together and gave the customary thank-offering. She looked over at Adohiro to see whether he was himself finished. A waste of good fish, but perhaps the staff would give it to a cat or something. "Where else is left on this tour of the embassy grounds, anyway?"

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Sean
He would also give the customary thank offering like her as he gives one last sip of his drink. "Well we can see the barracks. Might be good to know where the protection is. After that, we can maybe head to the dojo." He said. "Let's see the barracks first though." He stands up. "Than I can show you the offices."
Shelly
Kiyoko stood and collected her daisho, then motioned for Adohiro to lead the way. "The armory is near the barracks too, then?" She rarely wore armor, but she *Was* In need of a new do-maru. Perhaps a han-kyu bow would be good, as well. They taught kyujutsu at the Kakita Dueling Academy. She had never particularly excelled in it. Still, it was an enjoyable enough hobby to practice, and it certainly wouldn't hurt to have a bow again.

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Sean
He gives a nod. "It is." He said giving a small smile over at him. "We can head there." He said. He started to lead her to the way. Soon they reached the barracks which looked nice. It was a simple building (tower maybe?) "Here it is." He said entering inside. "It's this place, I guess I don't have anything to say about here." He said.
Shelly
Kiyoko raised an eyebrow at Adohiro. "You are not much of a fighter, are you, Daidoji-san?" She gave the barracks an appraising look; though she was hardly a soldier herself, she would have to come back by later for a more thorough inspection. At the very least, she'd need to know where the armory was, and that was most likely in or near the barracks.

"Well, no matter. Lead on," She said.

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Sean
He shrugged when he was asked if he was much of a fighter. "I like sparring, but I haven't had a chance in the battlefield yet, Kakita-San ." He said. "Over there is the armory." The armory was about twenty yards from the barracks. "You can get some good weaponry from here." He said.
Shelly
"I see," Kiyoko said. She could not say that she had been in a major battle herself, either. But then, those were relatively rare and she had spent the years since her *Gempukku* On a warrior-pilgrimage away from the Crane clan's service. Duels and skirmishes were much more common, and she at least had her share of experience with *Those*. The Kakita duelist nodded at Adohiro and gestured back toward the main compound. "The offices?" 

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Sean
"Yes, luckily it's been really peaceful here for the most part." He said. He had only been in duels mostly. Dueling was a nice pastime too. "Oh right; the offices. Let's go see them." He led her about a few yards from where they were and offices were on the side with another garden. "Here it is Kakita-San." He smiled.
Shelly
For some reason, Kiyoko had been expecting that the offices would be farther away. They were functional enough, she thought as she slid open a couple of their sliding doors and looked inside. Each one was simple, with tatami mat floors and a low writing desk dominating the space. One had a well cared-for bonsai tree—dwarf juniper, probably—in it. All had a wall scroll or two hanging on the walls.

"So, that is the tour, then," Kiyoko stated. "Where are my assigned quarters?"

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Sean
The offices were plain and rather boring. Adohiro was definitely tempted to sneak in and decorate it all nicely. He saw one had a bonsai tree when she opened it up which looked nice. He gives a nod as he heard her ask. "Yep it's all done. I can guide you to your assigned quarter. Did they give you a number for the room?" He asked. Sometimes if they had a lot of people, they would be assigned to it.
Shelly
Kiyoko shook her head at Adohiro. "An empty room is fine," She said. It wasn't exactly like she had brought much more than her daisho and the clothes on her back to begin with. The samurai-ko motioned for Adohiro to lead the way again. "I can find a servant for a futon and anything else I need, later."

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Sean
He heard an empty room was fine. He gives a nod as he saw her motion to lead the way. He gives a nod and started to lead her to the rooms. "I don't think we have a lot of visitors so you're free to pick whatever empty room you need." He informed her. After walking inside the crane embassy and going through a few hallways, he reached the guest bedrooms. The bedrooms were empty right now. "Well here we are, Kakita-San."
Shelly
Kiyoko took a step into the room, inspecting her new living space with idle curiosity. There wasn't much to it; it was empty, after all. Tatami mat flooring, bare walls, ceiling that was neither particularly high nor low. A small window high in the opposite wall that let in a bit of light and air. An empty *Daisho* Stand on a recess in the wall. The Kakita duelist nodded in approval, satisfied. It wasn't much, but then, she didn't need much. Kiyoko turned to Adohiro and gave him a shallow, respectful bow. "Thank you, Daidoji-san. I appreciated the tour," She said, essentially dismissing him.

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Sean
The room was rather simple. It made Adohiro want to decorate the rooms individually so they had more personality. He watched her inspect the boring room as he turned his head to examine the window. The window was interesting since it was so small. Couldn't they add a more medium sized window to the room? He than turned his head back to Kakita, hearing her thank him. "You're welcome. Thank you for letting me show you around, Kakita-San." He thanked her giving a respectful bow. "I'll see you later." He'd wave and be on his way!