Nathaniel
It had been roughly a month since Akodo Katsuhiro had arrived in Ryoko Owari Toshi with two units of soldiers to try and appraise and settle tensions in the city, as well as evaluate both the embassy and the city for whatever may come to face the Loin. In his original band he had brought on his Chui, Ikoma Miho of the Third Company, while his other Chui, led by the First Company, remained in Lion lands waiting word of his orders. Alongside Miho, he had brought two units of Ashigaru led by a Nikutai of the First Company, the Elite Guard, and a Nikutai of Ikoma's own company, bushi who had experience fighting the Unicorn. It gave them a diverse force to supplement the Embassy's own guard, which had only consisted of a Nikutai and some twenty Ashigaru. They were close to bursting here, but thankfully Ikoma Miho was an excellent officer that he knew he could count on. In fact, he had brought her specifically because her nature was on that he did not need to worry about in a den of temptation, and she had the etiquette skills needed to navigate a city with the presence and tensions of the whole Empire.

And that was partially why he was calling her in here. She was being a little too good at her job in the functions he needed her to be on a regular basis, but she seemed to be almost completely isolated, and he needed her to be an example to the others in how to conduct themselves in the city. He needed her to be his right hand in the city.

The meeting room was unfortunately bereft of the appropriate feng shui that would hopefully be achieved soon. Kitsu Himiko had let him borrow her meeting room for his own when she did not need it, but outside the shoji panel doors was a massive mess of the study garden he was attempting to build for her. Piles of dirt, trees planted by tied with stakes and rope to stay in place. A dug out but un-finished koi fish pond. Rocks not yet all in place as they should be. He had the inspiration to make something beutiful, but not yet.

A moment later, one of the panels slid open and a heimin bowed deeply, letting him know that Miho was there to see him. Akodo nodded and agreed to let her in.

Once inside the room with him, Katsuhiro would give her a friendly smile, but not one that was out of place for an official meeting.

"Ikoma-san, thank you for coming so quickly. Tell me, how do you feel you are settling into The City?"

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Daniel
Miho was, if possible, even more put together than usual. You could almost count on a hand the loose hair that had managed to escape her severe hairstyle, and she wore a bit more makeup than usual- partially to hide her eyebags. The last days had been gruelling, but she d be damned before she would let anyone, especially her commander, find a visible proof of it. As he saluted her, she bowed athletically, keeping her face parallel to the ground as she answered. "Of course. I am always at your service, Akodo-sama."

She waited for him to tell her to raise, and then she did, standing straight like a pillar as she reflected on his question. Frankly... She doesn't know what to answer. For the last days, her world has been reduced to the small room she has taken as her quarters, and the cramped space of her desk. The little she had seen of Ryoko Owari, as she entered the city with him, was already enough to make her vomit. She opted for a diplomatic answer.
"...It is an insidious place, but that is the reason we are here, after all. I apologise, I am not fully ready for this question. I have rarely went out of the embassy since our arrival." An overstatement, she had barely left her rooms. A part of her could already imagine what Katsuhiro was aiming to ask with that question. 

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Nathaniel
Katsuhiro gestured for her to sit on the pillow on the opposite side of the table from him. She was stiff and and ever the proper officer, and he imagined other people saw him the way he saw her right now as well. At least from outside the clan. But it seemed while Katsuhiro had felt he at least tried to adapt to the battlefield, Miho was trying to keep herself away from the insidiousness... Which was not a surprise, but she would need to grow as he was trying to as well.

"You are, as always, the very model of a Chui. That is part of why I chose you for this particular mission. Unlike many other officers and soldiers, your conduct is beyond reproach, and I do not need to worry about you when it comes to sake and opium, nor did I bring anyone along that I was *Overly* Concerned with."

Akodo poured some tea for the both of them as the room was empty and he wanted it to stay that way.

"This city is a battleground for the entire empire. I have learned that it is in fact the second largest city in the Empire. There are more Heimin in this city than in most of our provinces. Akodo Toturi-sama, and Shireikan-sama, have given us an incredible responsibility for maintaining order here, and as with all of our other battles, I intend to fight to win. While we are here, however, to the extent that we operate in this city, our Shireikan is Ambassador Kitsu Himiko-sama. She speaks with the voice of our Clan Champion."

He took the small tea cup in hand, blew on it once, and then took a sip.

"As long as this city is an Imperial holding under Otomo-sama, we have one hand tied behind our back, and unfortunately it is our sword hand. Therefore, our resources are connections and information. Leverage. Courtier *Kuso*." Akodo swore, something he rarely did, but did so for emphasis this time.

"The Ambassador means to make the Lion clan the bedrock of this Imperial holding. We have proven before that we could take this city by force, but we have also seen recently with Toshi Ranbo, that those gains are just koku to be bartered with at Winter Court. We aim to prove we are capable of something that no clan has ever been able to do in the past. Take and hold the City of lies. I know you are aware of the Scorpion's attempt at starting a war with Lion and Unicorn, but taking this city from them would be perhaps the most embarrassing strike the Lion has ever made against the Scorpion clan."

He took another sip, he had been talking too long, and he was certain she would have questions.

"I brought you here to be my right hand, Ikoma-san. I greatly appreciate you taking on the duties of Chui, and the duties of Ikoma Kenshin while he was gone. You have done both without complaint or error, and you have done so effortlessly. But I need my *Hisha* On the Shogi board." It was not infrequent for Katsuhiro to make Shogi analogies, this time referencing her as one of the most powerful pieces on the board.

"Do you understand?"

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Daniel
Miho understood what her taisa was asking of her halfway through, but she wouldn't even dream of interrupting him, sitting rigidly on the pillow until he was done. The idea of diving in the city's politics didn't thrill her, but it didn't scare her either; she had already navigated in the treacherous courts of Rokugan, to prove she could be more than a brutish soldier. If this was what her Lord needed of her, she would do it. As always.

"I understand, Akodo-sama." She said stiffly, as she ordered her thoughts. She took a risk and spoke again, hoping she would not involuntarily interrupt him. "Then, what would you have me do? As you wisely said, I am but a piece on the checkboard. You are the player." Privately, she hoped she would get to deal with the Scorpion. She didn't like the Unicorn either, but she had a particular distaste for the clan of lies, and it would bring her great pleasure to hound them in their own lair. Perhaps even uncover some scandal with the cartel...
*Back to earth, Miho.* She scolded herself severely. She had the vice of fantasising on future accomplishments; not that she thought she couldn't really do them, but daydreaming was not a productive activity.

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Nathaniel
Akodo gave a small huff of air, like a laugh that was cut short. "Even I am not the player, nor Kitsu-sama, but she is as close to one as the analogy will go."

It was good that she was on board with this, it took less than he was worried that it might to convince her she would need to get involved in this way, but she was the most savvy of his chui in this way. The others were all very deferential to him, and obediant soldiers and gifted commanders, but Miho had a fire in her that the others lacked, and that would serve her well here.

"I have a couple of Irons in the fire. Kitsu Himiko-sama is handling the diplomatic relations with the clans as far as alliances and manuvering goes on that end, but we are still mostly blind. I have tasked Ikoma Maeda-san with doing some investigating. He is currently working on a peace keeping mission alongside all of the other clans. The Otomo requested each clan send one samurai to help deal with some of the heimin unrest."

Taking another sip of his tea, he continued on. "Due to the politics of the enemy of my enemy is my friend, we currently have a friendship with the Unicorn of the city to train the heimin to defend themselves, and to learn organizational tactics such as checkpoints and patrols in order to try and cut into the criminal element and the control the Cartels have over the city. This is only phase one of getting back at the Scorpion."

He pushed a copy of the letter he had received from Himiko across the table to Miho so she could read it. It addressed the details of the plan.

"Further, in a few days time we will begin training the headmen and other leaders of the community in basic hand to hand and formations. I will be there to start things off, as I am the one who had the initial meeting with the Unicorn Chui Utaku Masanori-san, but I will eventually leave the drilling to you and whatever off duty samurai we can spare for the exercise. Under no circumstances will the heimen be given metal weapons."

He paused at that point, letting her ask questiosn before he continued on even further.

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Daniel
She simplt nodded her head, absorbing diligently all this information. This plan was... Uncharasterical, but Katsuhiro had always been an uncharasterical commander. "I see, Akodo-sama. If I may dare, how do we know the heimin wont be using this training for the Scorpion? They have held the city for far longer than anyone else, and i imagine they might have ways to buy the people s loyalty." Before reaching for the letter, she quietly asked permission to do so with her eyes, and once she received it, she bowed her head respectfully, raising the paper to her eyes.

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Nathaniel
Akodo smiled at her question, "I had the same concern, but right now the heimin have been abused thoroughly by the incompetant leadership of the Scorpion, and that is part of why there is an Imperial Governor. We hope, by giving them a small feeling of control over their lives, that this buys good will towards Samurai in general, showing that we are not heartless abusers, but also good will specifically for the Lion and the Unicorn. Could this end up helping a member of a cartel or two? Perhaps, but the Cartels already have means and methods of their own backed by the Scorpion Clan. This is our counter play to their long estabished hold. Phase two will begin to deal with them more directly."

Akodo nodded, letting her read the letter.

"We also need to build connections within the city. If we were ever to take and try to hold the city, because we are deep in Scoprion lands, we will need allies to hold it. While they may not be formal clan alliance between our Champions, the Ambassadors here do have more sway than common among diplomats. Trade up the river via Mantis and Crab are particularly important, but the Unicorn are also adjacent here. You know as well as I do that an army can only go as far as their supply chain will take them."

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Daniel
This time her nod was more hesitant. She was polite, watchful and considerate, but no one had ever called her amicable. She was not sure of how much use she could be in securing alliances, and with the Mantis of all... They could be a Great Clan now, but she d not forget easily about the time they were raider and freebooters. Many still were, actually. *It is not up to you to decide. If this is what the clan needs, so be it.*

"I understand, Akodo-sama. However I am sure there are far more skilled diplomats than me that are handling those connections. How can I help in such a delicate endeavour? I shall do my best regardless."

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Nathaniel
Katsuhiro knew ahead of time that this would be the most difficult part of this conversation. Miho was often times like a tightly drawn bowstring. Whiel the Matsu were infamous for releasing the bowstring, if you kept a bow drawn taunt too long, it would break or lose its strength. He himself had at least enough self awareness to know he was guilty of this as well, though not quite to the extent that Miho was.

"Kitsu-sama and I will handle the formalities of an alliance, and indeed have already made good progress. Instead, what I am looking for from you is two pronged. One, I need you to meet with members of the other clans and establish a relationship with them in the manner that meeting and exchanging information is a casual occurrence. Not in the way Crane do, but we need to know what the plays are. We may not get a Crane to talk about Crane alliances, but perhaps the Mantis will. Having friends to have tea with in each of the clans is important for the flow of information. Second, I need you to be an example of conduct. Go out with the Lions when they go out into the city, let them see how you act, and monitor how they act. We cannot allow carelessness or stupidity to cause us to stumble. There has been enough damage done in this city by errant samurai who do not mind their honor or their ancestors. The Lion will be an example of samurai conduct in the city, and this example will make the Otomo feel comfortable leaning on our clan as the right hand of the Emperor. This, in turn, will give us more liberty and power in the city."

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Daniel
Miho didn't flinch, but she came really, really close. Not only she would have to go out and act all friendly with samurai of questionable honor, but she d also have to set the example for her fellow Lions, which meant any misstep of hers would resonate deeply on her reputation. She hadn't thought this would be easy,but the prospects for this mission were almost depressing. *Don't be a whimp. So what if you re not equipped for this situation? Just grow into this role. A samurai must learn to excel in all things.*

She bowed to her lord, perhaps a bit stiffer than before. If she d have to relax to do this, she was in for a bad start; she felt as if her all her muscles were tensing for a jump. "I am flattened by your trust, Akodo-sama, I will do my best. Where can I find information on the other clans' delegations? I will need to document myself properly for this mission." It would almost sound comical, if her face wasn't the exact opposite of comical; even when trying to make friends, her first approach to the matter was to find some books about them and study their characters like a fortress she needed to siege.

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Nathaniel
He had expected some push back, but unflinching acceptance of her orders was very much a Miho characteristic. Still, he knew that this would be something she would struggle with. It was something *He* Struggled with as well. Not only did the clan need this though, both of them needed to grow in this skill.

"Miho-san." Akodo changed his address and his tone, indicating to her that what followed was more informal, from one friend to another.

"I realize that this is a... Unprecedented task I have given to you. I felt the same way when this task was given to *Me*. I am not the first Taisa one would expect to send to this den of vipers. An Ikoma Taisa with more special operations experience, or more winter court experience would be better suited. We are being given a chance to prove ourself capable of adapting. When the Children of Ki-rin returned with their cavalry, they swept the Shadowlands and the Empire all the way to Otosan Uchi. In the War of the Plains we expected Cavalry, and they played upon our expectations. Their current Ambassador is *Taisa Utaku Kazuko*."

The name would be one Miho remembered from the War of the Plains, she was an exceptionally gifted commander who never engaged in the way that the Lion predicted, always keeping one clever maneuver ahead of them.

"I know you wish to have command of your own legion one day, if not an entire army, but the only people who gain the rank of Shireikan without being born to it are those who can play the game. I have gone as far as merit will get you on its own. Do well in this city, at this task, and it may land you an invite to Winter Court at Otosan Uchi. Whatever you think of the vipers here, the capital is even worse. This city is the training ground for that, the contacts you make here will likely end up there some day as well, and you need to have those pieces on your own shogi board."

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Daniel
She had to force herself to relax her shoulders as Katsuhiro called her in a more familiar way; even with the people she cherished, it was never easy for her to let down her walls, always something she needed to focus on. Her lips pursed as He mentioned Kazuko, an expression that radiated both terse respect and wary hostility, but as he got to speak of her ambitions, her eyes softened imperceptibly. Miho liked to think of her mind as impenetrable to the eyes of others, but Katsuhiro was always ready to humble her on that matter. She bowed deeply, placing her hands on the floor as she touched the ground with her forehead. 
"Thank you, Akodo-sama. I will not disappoint your expectations."

She didn't dare take any familiarities as he did with her, but in her mind she replaced the "Akodo" With *Katsuhiro*-sama. She wanted to grow past this position, to raise in the ranks and reach as high as she possibly could, but all she wanted for her Taisa was happiness and prosperity. "Then, with your leave... I would go brush up my tea set. I suppose that at least I will get to make a tea ceremony without worrying an archer will notice the glint of my cups." If it was a joke, Miho did not smile, but it was as close to playful as she could get. It took her years to feel comfortable enough to take such liberties with her Taisa.

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Nathaniel
Katsuhiro held in a bit of disappointment when Miho bowed her head to the floor, not because she did anything wrong, but because that level of deference was not what he had been hoping for in calling her by her name. He had hoped, by switching as he had, that she would let down her walls more, or call him by his name has he had given her leave to do when they were alone and not in the command tent on official business... But he supposed this was the command tent for this particular battlefield. Still, he knew she would give it all her heart.

"I know you won't." He said to her promise not to disappoint him. Ever task had a proper tool, every opponent a proper strategy, and she was the one he had bet his success here on.

A wry smile crossed Katsuhiro's face as Miho made a comment about her tea set. It had been a long time since he had even heard her mention them. He couldn't tell if it was a joke or not, but he took it as one. 

"If anything was broken or needs to be replaced, you could seek out Yoritomo Takeya-san, I believe he would be able to help you."

As she moved to leave, he called out to her one last time, "Oh, and for the love of the ancestors, if a Dragon shugenja, or anyone else invited you to the Juniper Teahouse, just decline. Do not go there for any reason." He shook his head, thinking of the mistake that he himself almost made setting foot in there.

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Daniel
She stops on the door, her eyebrows raising slightly. She would have liked to ask more information about why, but right now, she had more important things to take care of. Like, first of, find out how the hell city samurai usually make friends.

"It shall be done, Akodo-sama. Please call me if anything troubles you." She bows once more, for about the sixth time in the short meeting, and leaves the room, making sure to not give her back to him until the door was closed. Finally, out alone, she let herself sigh; Katsuhiro was a good commander. Better than she deserved. He deserved a chui that could dedicate themselves fully to his service, without chasing selfish objectives... But alas, that was not her.

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