Rick
The sun was warm, the birds were chirping, and the scents of fresh-tended gardens were tickling the nostrils. Bayushi Kaori sat on a mat under the shade of the largest tree, eyes half closed, enjoying herself immensely. A tea service sat off to one side. Beyond, a servant cradled a biwa. 

The Scorpion had tucked her right arm into her kimono, the empty sleeve neatly pinned up. Her black hair was pulled into an asymetrical style. Her garment was only conservative by Manami's standards, so she was still far more daring than most seen at Winter Court. 

Her eyes, framed by a black lace mask, drifted open at last when the newcomer approached. At first glance the woman was smirking, but closer inspection would show that beneath the threads on her left cheek she had a fresh scar. Her perpetual smirk was an unfortunate consequence of this wound. 

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Herman
Her hair held up and back in a ponytail by black pins adorned with red and black lace ribbons, Soshi Miyoko had taken meticulous care in her presentation for today. As she approached Bayushi Kaori, she gave a gentle bow and settled just on the edge of the light by the great maple tree, gentle breezes of wind shifting flickering shadows across her face as she sat down facing Kaori. 

"Bayushi San, I hope the day is finding you well? You seem very comfortable." Miyoko bantered as she detached her wakizashi and placed it to her right side. Continuing more seriously, "I am ready to learn and listen, thank you for your time today."
A glance around the garden, and a moment to study Kaori herself were taken as the Soshi girl started to settle in, and turned her full attention to the Bayushi.
Rick
"Wecome to the city, Soshi-san," The Scorpion bowed. "I trust your journey was pleasant, you seem to be in excellent health." 

She flicked back her hair as she studied the woman across from her, judging the cut of her kimono, her decorations and accessories, even the way her wakizashi sat. Kaori herself had a full daisho laid out beside her on her right side and her ornaments glittered even in the shade. "I will assume you know nothing, so feel free to let your attention wander if I touch on information you already possess. To start, this city was ours at the start of springtime, ruled by your family. Unfortunately madness seized the governor. Beset on two fronts by the Unicorn and the Lion he made a gambit with a forged letter that was poorly executed. We were exposed, by our allies no less. Accusations were hurled about and your kinsman was slain in a duel with the leader of the Unicorn delegation." 

Her fingers flicked to the side and the servant began to play the biwa, the notes rising and falling, to mask any further conversation from pricked ears. "The plan he implimented was mine, I had proposed it in council some time earlier, but it required certain groundwork and preparation he did not see to. I take no responsibility for his folly or his death." 

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Herman
"The journey went smoothly, though the city is hardly the home I knew before I left to study among Bayushi Senseis." Miyoko offered as she nodded, listening attentively to what had transpired in her absence. Waiting for the natural break in flow when Kaori exonerated herself, before asking, "Do we know which allies leaked the information, and what were the contents of the forged letter?"

Soshi Miyoko thought about the grizzly scene that must've been for a moment, letting the gravity of what occurred settle over her. If she was hasty, foolish or otherwise failed her duties, something like that could happen to her. She gave a slight shudder at the thought as she drove it to the edges of her mind, running her fingertips over her closed fan and feeling the cold smoothness of it's handle.
"If I may also ask, Bayushi-San, have things stayed just as heated with the Unicorn and Lion in the days since the exchange? Or has our governor's abrupt departure satisfied them?"

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Rick
Kaori sighed. "We know exactly who did it—Moshi Mai summoned the Kami to determine the exact origin of the forged letter, right there in the middle of the room. She didn't know better, and no one can expect a Mantis to remain silent when she's surprised." 

She considered the other question. "They have cooled down somewhat. The Unicorn are trying to scheme and dream, I think they are practicing what the Crane have been teaching them. The Lion are far less hostile, which is surprising. Usually the Lion prances and preens before attacking. I am not familiar with their local leadership, perhaps they are just more subtle than I give them credit for." 

Her soft lips pursed. "So after the death of the governor we had Bayushi Ikoma try to take the reins of the city only to retreat into obscurity. We were left floundering without leadership. Only a couple of us, myself and Rokugo Yoto, were active at all, and we were fighting every day to keep the Mantis relationship cordial."

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Herman
Miyoko nodded, "I see, and what's been the damage from the fallout of that with the Mantis? I imagine they were unimpressed with our scheme?" She breathed a slight sigh of relief hearing the lion at least were not already boiling over. Perhaps they wouldn't ruin good tea by trying to poison her, for now. "What did that fighting for cordiality with the mantis entail exactly?"

Miyoko shifted a bit, moving her legs to one side and relaxing her hips a bit, "Thank you again, Bayushi-San, I apologize for all of the questions." She glanced up and away at the sky, long enough to let the thoughts of finding a field of flowers to go lay out in until these dark clouds passed.
Rick
"Quite unimpressed. They agreed to treat it as a passing madness of one individual, but then our acting ambassador failed to act at all to retain our alliance, holing up and refusing to give myself or Rokugo-san any guidance. We served as mercenaries for the Mantis, hunting their criminals through the alleys of the city while an Imperial governor sat in the palace and took all the credit." 

She sighed. "That is how I was wounded. Here, and here," She indicated the scar on her face as well as the arm. "I have paid in blood and pain for our leadership's apathy." 

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Herman
"I see, well we willl have to molt out of this dead skin. I can at least assure you that I'm not apathetic." Miyoko offered, as she continued to listen and converse with Kaori, and think of how best to move forward from the situation that she found herself embroiled in. "Is there anything else I ought to know to get me up to speed?" 
A brief pause before the Soshi girl asked, "What were you doing before all this went sideways? How long have you been in the city yourself?"
Rick
"There was a public forum we held a few days ago that had some interesting remarks bandied," Kaori considered. "Oh, the Kolat are certainly very active in this city. Since the Scorpion lost power they have grown bold indeed. It was an organized group of spearmen that wounded my arm down in the leather worker district." 

She grimaced. "I arrived but lately to the city myself, shortly before the incident. I was sent to be an agent, a weapon the governor could wield against his enemies. Instead I have been wielded by the Mantis. I have somewhat good relations with Moshi Mai—somewhat intimate relations—but nothing really very useful. Rokugo-san has been more successful in cultivating relationships." 

She considered. "Phoenix have ruined their reputation by blasting innocents with lightning. Unicorn have been begging or borrowing or stealing every loose thread they can pull on. Local gangs are restless and fracteous. We are trying to undermine the current administration while showing ourselves as the rightful source of law and order. Your cousin is determined to have us behave as paragons of virtue. We shall see if this strategy holds."

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Herman
"Well, please accept my welcome to the city of my birth and the city I consider to be home. I'll have to inquire about Rokugo-san's efforts later then."
She thought carefully about the Phoenix, "Any idea how such a mishap occurred? I thought the phoenix were averse to violence and all forms of fighting except self defense?"
She nodded along as she asked for clarification, "Speaking plainly, you mean that the unicorn searching for an excuse to escalate this again?" Miyoko spread her fan and obscured her frown as the discussions continued. "I think I'll take a more proactive approach than my cousin in this. Have you personally offended any other parties that I should be aware of?"
Rick
The Scorpion snorted. "That is like saying that all Crane are adverse to giving offense as that would be a breach of ettiquete, or all Lion are adverse to strategic retreat—no, that actually is true." 

She snickered. "My own list of crimes... Well, I cannot say I have offended very many. There is a criminal gangster known as Silver-Chan I am forced to work with as part of my duties to keep the peace, I have offended several of his rivals, and I have slain a few dozen criminals and one brothel madame who dared to order my death. Moshi Mai's daughter is not pleased that I am so well acquainted with her mother. But other than that... No, I am generally well-loved wherever I go." 

It was a wonder the earth did not shake under such complete lack of self-awareness. 

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Herman
Soshi Miyoko nodded, folding her fan as she returned to a neutral expression, "Thank you again for your time and warmest welcomes as I make my return here." She waited to see if there was more to discuss as she digested the last of the information that was shared with her. It seemed she would have her work cut out for her in the city now, but at least that meant an opportunity to prove herself and succeed where others had seemingly failed. "Do you know which Phoenix cast the fury of Osano-Wo?"
Rick
"I do not, but I can find out. Does it matter? They can all do that I think."

The Scorpion gnawed her lip thoughtfully. "I am trying to think of what else has happened here of real note. No, I think that covers most of our clan's activities. There are spy reports of course that can fill in some details for you on the other clan's activities. But that's all I can think of. Welcome home. Have you any questions? Do you have a yojimbo meeting you here?"

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Herman
"It could help me later, especially if it's lead to a scandal as you mentioned, but I can take my own time and look into it, thank you for informing me of it." The courtier, shook her head, "No I don't think I have any further questions, and I do not have a Yojimbo at this time, but will likely be in need of one if I am to smooth things here without putting myself at risk. Is there someone you recommend from the scorpion who might be willing to act as my yojimbo, and well suited to doing so?"
Rick
"I *Can* Duel if it comes to it," Kaori glanced at the daisho in the grass beside her. "I would rather not be considered an official yojimbo. My best work is done when people do not consider me a threat. Rokugo Yuto is developing into a fine duelist. Consider him your first choice. Then, if the threat is substantial, he can be removed and I can take the field." 

Her eyes danced. "I would prefer not to have to show any competence with my left hand though, so please do not quarrel until I have healed."

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Herman
"If I don't find Rokugo-San to my liking, I imagine there would be Ronin here who might be interested in such opportunities, do you find Rokugo-San to be level headed? Is it difficult to make him rise to provocation?" The Soshi seemed deeply pensive, despite her apparent attentiveness. "How long will your injury take to heal? Are you receiving care for it?" Miyoko regarded Kaori's injuries again, studying them from her vantage, without moving to go closer or making any movements towards the Bayushi.
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Rick
"Oh, Soshi-san, please," The Scorpion's tone was very nearly scathing. "Do you really think I would allow a *Ronin* To yojimbo for one of my clanmates? Ronin and their ilk are arrows to be loosed and forgotten. If Rokugo-san is not sufficient do let me know." 

She looked down at her arm. "Indeed, I would rather demonstrate an off-hand murder-stroke before the Son of Heaven before I allowed a *Ronin* To represent us. Do not worry. I can perform such duties even in my current state, as inconvenient as it may be." 

Her tone was light, arrogant, almost foolish, but a dangerous predator was grinning in her eyes. "My arm is knitting together slowly but surely. It will be well by Winter Court."

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Herman
Miyoko drew up her fan to hide her features as she watched the Bayushi's demeanor change and measured the rise given from the mere mention of a Ronin. The Soshi held her own tongue, as she assessed Kaori's fiery and passionate response, scrutinizing her thoroughly.
After Bayushi Kaori changed the subject on her own, Miyoko nodded, seizing the opportunity the new topic had afforded. "Then perhaps I shall take my leave so that you may rest and recover, I am glad to hear it knits back together well, but do seek me out if you have complications with your threadwork sewing together. Thank you again for your time."
The courtier collected her discarded wakizashi, and climbed to her feet, preparing to depart.
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Rick
The Bayushi retrieved her own swords and rose as well. "It was a pleasure to meet you Soshi-san. I look forward to seeing all that you accomplish here in this city. My heart soars with hope at the notion of proper reinforcements. For we are truly under siege here, and I am not trained for this kind of warfare." 

She bowed.

|| Thank you for the scene!
Herman
Soshi Miyoko returned the courteous bow and closing her fan offered a neutral expression again, "The pleasure is all mine, Bayushi-san, I trust I may be in your care when other kinds of warfare, which my own training lacks for should come to my own door, and I am delighted to meet someone who seems as capable and fervent as you."

||Thank you for the scene too ❤️