Gail
"You dare speak to me, Ambassador to the Unicorn Clan to Ryoko Owari Toshi, Voice of the Great Horde, and heir to the Utaku daimyo in this tone!" The little girl's voice was shaky and hitched more than once, but she stood her ground as she stared intently at the hands of the woman signing. She was not used to delivering such a scathing tirade in front of anyone, let alone her mother and the samurai she served, but she took a valiant stand.

"Very good, Hisa-chan!" Her mother, seated to the side watching equally intently, clapped softly and smiled brightly. The girl let out a sigh and deflated a little, eyes darting to the plate of boortsog on the table. The woman whose words she was translating, nodded her permission, and little hands shot out to obtain more than her fair share. "You're learning quickly. Pretty soon I'll be able to take days off."

"I dunno, *Haha-ue*. It's tough being grumpy all the time." Hisa sat down next to her mother and spoke between bites of the fried dough, oblivious to the shock on Kazuko's face and the efforts of her own mother to avoid laughing.

"Well, then, how about I handle all the business meetings and you can help her when she goes shopping or on dates." Fuyuko cast an eye toward the reddening Utaku, and finally laughed. "Please, Kazuko-sama. You know Makoto-sama loves kids. He'd be thrilled to have Hisa-chan along. Plus she takes up less room and is cheaper to feed—I hope."

The Battle Maiden went as if to retort, but stopped halfway, instead plucking one of the fried sweet balls of dough and throwing it at her translation team. Fuyuko deftly grabbed it before it impacted, popping it into her own mouth. "Better watch out, Hisa-chan. Looks like she means business."

Hisa nodded with mock seriousness, then finished the last of her boortsog and stood again. "Oba-sama Ko, thank you for the lessons. And the snacks."

She ran to give the Unicorn Ambassador a quick hug, then backed off and returned to a more proper demeanor. "Now, this one will return to her duties. I believe a new samurai will be arriving soon, and I would be remiss in my duties if I was not there to welcome him."

*Very good. When he arrives, send him here toy office. Tell a servant to ensure the tea is hot and ready.* Kazuko's dismissal was matched with a hint of a smile and a gentle nod of her head. Bowing to the floor, Hisa exited and moved back to the waiting rooms. *That girl is already a handful. I shudder to think of her in a few years.*

"You're telling me, Kazuko-sama. I have to *Raise* Her." Fuyuko now stood and moved to her lady's side, rummaging through nearby paperwork to find the letters of import. "Now, about our new arrival. Another Moto—Khasar is his name. Here is all we received on him."

Utaku Kazuko took the papers and began to look over them, refreshing her memory of who this man was while she waited for him to be summoned to her offices.

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Michael
*His arrival was heralded by the sound of heavy footsteps not quite as practiced in keeping a respectful quiet. As he was shown in he thanked his guide, and bowed before the Ambassador with the proper level of respect. Standing taller than most with a shoulder length mop of black hair pinned out of his face in a small bun, with the remainder falling loosely upon his neck. He didn't look comfortable dressed up in his nicest kimono, and following the procedures of etiquette, but his effort to conform to them was evident. 

He was obviously young, and his facial features seemed to reflect a hint of annoyance. Upon closer inspection however that was kind of just the way his brows naturally seemed to rest, and the hazel eyes beneath betrayed his true feeling of nervous anticipation. At first he bows deeply, then as if feeling inadequate he drops down further to his knees while he lowers his forehead to the ground.*

"Mato Khasar, reporting for duty Utaku-*Sama*"

*He speaks fluidly, but his inexperience in dealing with those of a higher station is obvious at a glance. He waits nervously for the response.*

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Gail
Unicorn Ambassador Utaku Kazuko's office was not designed to impress. A window to let in sunlight, a door behind to provide quick access to the room from outside—and quick exit. To one corner sat an armor stand with armor, a rack for a daisho containing only a wakizashi, and a proudly displayed Saddle Cutter. The centerpiece was a large, exotic wooden desk with intricately engraved silver patterns. Papers were neatly stacked on each of the desk's far ends, and a departing servant had just supplied a tea set with three cups to the side.

As the Moto introduced himself, Kazuko—seated behind the desk—gestured toward a seating cushion in front of the desk. Kazuko wore her standard fair in such meetings, a fine but not overly formal kimono in the lavender and gold of the Unicorn. As the Moto approached, the Battle Maden's severe countenance would seem to bore into and through him.

Standing behind and beside her was a small woman dressed in fine quality but simple servant's clothing. She would place the cups in front of the Ambassador, the Moto, and lastly herself, before pouring the dark brown liquid into them in the same order.

The Unicorn Ambassador long ago learned not to distinguish the dour countenance of the Moto with genuine displeasure. It had served her well during Khan Chagatai's surprisingly subtle but ultimately futile play to usurp the Championship from Yasamura. The boy before her was nervous, but nothing more. Good. She would rather handle this than brash overconfidence.

Utaku Kazuko raised her hands and began to sign, as the woman to her right spoke. "Welcome, Moto-san. I hope the journey here was agreeable. I am Utaku Kazuko, Ambassador to Ryoko Owari. The woman speaking is Fuyuko-san. She serves as my translator, as I am unable to speak after attempts on my life. Any words conveyed by her are my words; please consider them with the same weight."

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