Emily
It would be very late at night when three figures emerged from the stormy rain, into the lantern light of the Crane Embassy. At first the guards were startled, thinking two small oni were approaching, but when the light came around, it was clearly just two tall women of different clans, and a familiar face between them. 

"Kazane... What are you-"

"Guard." Moshi Mai spoke up, pointing at the man. "I am Ambassador Moshi Mai of the Mantis. Get your Magistrate and your Ambassador, now. I need to speak to them or whoever is in charge at such an hour." There was a moment of hesitation as the guards looked at each other, confused by the sudden orders and demands. 

"Moshi-sama," One of them said, "On what grounds-"

"The grounds of _murder._ Now, get someone, and let us in, or I'll let _myself_ in." 

The guard bowed, and hurried inside to get the attention of those within. 

This was going to be a long night, no doubt. Between her bout with Miu, finding Kazane and the late Kakita Yuzuki, this was draining for the shugenja. Surely this was only going to get worse from here.

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Tammy
A guard cake stumbling into Masanari's office... Stumbling over his words until Masanari stopped him. He caught the words murder and the name Moshi-sama and that was enough. Moshi had been of great interest to Masanari of late and now her she was, at this late hour. 

He stood, brushed himself off and took an extra moment to allow the smile of curiosity to fall of his face. Making his way out he approached. 

"I apologise for the delay. I am Doji Masanari, i am neither Magistrate or Ambassador yet at this time it is I who responsibility falls to and your request was of the upmost urgency. How can I be of service." 

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Coleen
Miu stood by Mai's side. Making sure the Mantis was supported with every ounce of energy she owed. This night was not one of the grandest battles she had wished for. But her personal matters had no room in this scene right now. She was drenched by water, it became cold soon. But once again she was not here to complain. 

After handing over the in total shock Kazane to one of the Crane guards she glanced over to Mai. When the other Crane approached she sighed a bit. A long night indeed. Perhaps she spoke for her turn, but everything was still written on her retina and she was willing to speak. So she did. She bowed down. 

*"I am sure you are familiar with Ambassador Moshi-sama. I am Kitsu Miu of the lion clan. As you can see Kazane-san was found at the river bank where Moshi-sama and I were brawling. Before you question the place, I suppose you understand the tensions within clans and seeing a simple Kitsu like me brawl with the grand ambassador of the Mantis will cause rumors."* Miu paused for a moment to let her speech sink in. If Mai wanted to add on to something wheter it was approval or disapproval now was the moment. 

*"We stumbled upon your servant, Kazane-san. If you observe her well enough you'll come to the conclusion that she is in total shock."* Miu continued her speech when she decided there had been enough room for somebody to object. 

*"She was holding, mind my gruesome directness on this matter, a head. One of her masters, one of the crane."* Miu stopped talking here. She was not political enough for the discussion that would follow. So her eyes looked at Mai with the slightest of hope. They radiated sorrow as well. 

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John
*Having been readying himself for bed, Kakita Aritomo would come down from his room, when he came down to see who would visit at such a late hour. He gives a bow to the guests, taking a quiet place against the wall, turning his one good eye to see. He would've missed the part about Kazane holding a head, and quietly wonders what this was about, though he knew it wasn't his place to speak at the moment. He still wore his kimono, though as he had been preparing for bed, his daisho was put away in his room, and his hair looked slightly unkempt, not the best appearance for meeting guests, but then again, this was much later than any tended to receive guests, so he guessed this must me an urgent matter and was the state of his dress would be overlooked.*
Emily
Mai bowed when Doji Masanari came in, as well as Kakita Aritomo, but she was thankful that Kitsu Miu chose to speak. It was all a rather hard situation to be in, and as an Ambassador from a hated Clan, she was in a very hot seat. 

"What she says is true, Crane-sans," Mai said. "We were engaged in a friendly bout when this woman wandered up to us. She had the... Head of a Crane Samurai in her grasp. I'm afraid that I must inform you that Kakita Yuzuki is dead." Mai bowed again as she gave the bad news. 

"Kakita-sama?" Kazane spoke up, in a daze, looking about. "No... She's here, she was..." She looked at her empty hands, confused. "Kakita-sama?" 

"She has been taken away from prying eyes," Mai explained, and is under the careful guard of my yojimbo, Chiyoko-san. She knew and fought alongside Kakita-sama, so I trust her to keep her remains unmolested by hinin or anyone else." Mai didn't like this, not one bit, but she was honorbound to do the right thing and report it all. "I have notified the Thunder Guard, but other than that, you lot are the first to hear of this. This is a Crane matter, but the Mantis are willing to assist, if deemed necessary."

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Elaine
Kiyoko awakened again, having thrown off her futon cover and sprawled out across her quarters. She heard the sound of quiet, hurried footsteps past her door and frowned. It was still dark outside, and she heard the pitter-patter of rain. She took up her wakizashi and straightened out the *Jinbei* She had fallen asleep in as she stood, then stepped out into the hallway. She heard voices from near the embassy's foyer and quietly padded that way. 

The Kakita duelist heard someone repeating her family name just as she neared the source of the voices. Kiyoko stepped off to one side as she caught sight of their two guests, content to unobtrusively listen. If they needed her, she would be on-hand.

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Brian
"Excuse me."
Koharu had arrived from the office chambers, fully dressed as she often was in the night. Though in the weak lanterns' glow her face did not yet betray the fatigue she felt within, her voice emerged colder and raspier than intended.

Moving past her peers, Koharu's eyes locked onto Kazane, whose presence and ghastly appearance immediately confirmed her suspicions.

"I heard news of a murder. Kakita Yuzuki..." The name hung in the air, sounding like a question, but only the fragment of one. And like the cry of a mountain bird it faded, weightless, a name no longer belonging to this world. *I couldn't protect you.*

Koharu looked at the visitor, who the guard had described to her hastily as Moshi Mai, the ambassador. *Mantis.* It was then that Koharu felt a stab of contempt near the base of her neck, and out of the grief, shock, and restlessness Koharu nearly considered something very dangerous. 

But no, this was not the time to blame the Mantis for anything, simple though it might have seemed. This was their ambassador, after all. Any rash behaviour now could result in years of further clan tension.

"I... I need to know who did this," Koharu finally said, her tone cutting. "The perpetrators of such hateful violence against a Crane samurai will receive the punishment owed. I care little of what the Thunder Guard thinks."

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Emily
When Doji Koharu entered, Mai gave a respectful bow, and confirmed what she asked about. "That is correct, Doji-sama. Kakita-san was murdered." She could tell that this situation was a tenuous one, and needed to be played carefully. When a corpse arrives and a mantis is nearby, who else would the Crane point out? 

"I want the same answer as you do, Doji-sama," Mai replied, "As anyone brazen enough to attack a samurai is needing to be dealt with swiftly. I... Forgive me for the bluntness, but I saw the state of her, along with my Yojimbo. She was beaten, quite badly, and the blows were many and varied. I am no magistrate, but my Yojimbo attests that the wounds look to be from many weapons. I fear she was overtaken by many. Possibly a mob, or a gang." She looked over at Kazane, who still mumbled Yuzuki's name. 

"She was stabbed, but we were able to heal her. She doesn't seem to be with us, as you see. I fear the shock has muddied her soul. We figured someone here may know her better, and could calm her enough for answers.

"I also know this is a poor time to do so, but I must make it clear that I or any of my Mantis had anything to do with this." Mai hated politicking, but sadly it was necessary. "I came here in good faith, and to offer assistance. Whatever our clans say about the other, a samurai was slain, unlawful and dishonorably so. The Celestial Order requires righting."

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Elaine
Kiyoko watched as Koharu made her entrance. She had few occasions to interact with the Iron Crane who served as guard captain of the embassy, but the Kakita duelist had heard rumors. It was said that Koharu did not sleep, and given the fact that she was still fully dressed at this late hour, there did seem to be some truth to the rumor. The unexpected raspiness of her voice was the only indication that perhaps she *Needed* To.

For her part, Kiyoko had not met this other Kakita to whom they were referring. Now, it seemed that she never would. They were distant kin at best, so this did not really bring her any sorrow. But the affront to the Kakita family and the Crane clan's honor, as well as the threat to order that mere heimin or hinin slaying a samurai represented, could not be ignored—Kiyoko understood that much.

Unfortunately, she did not know this servant, Kazane, either, nor was she skilled in any sort of healing art. Maybe another could.

She cleared her throat and spoke up. "Shall I rouse a shugenja, Doji-sama?"

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Brian
She approached Kazane slowly, studying the woman's eyes. They were still unfocused, fearful. Koharu had seen her fill of shock, especially among the rural folk she used to protect from banditry and ronin attacks. This was particularly bad. Yuzuki and Kazane had been truly inseparable because of Yuzuki's blindness. And now they had been torn apart by a mob murder... Koharu struggled to imagine such an ordeal.

"Please escort Kazane-san somewhere brightly lit," Koharu said, "And do not leave her alone. Have someone around to speak to her, even if she doesn't appear to listen. Find a shugenja if she is still unable to rest."

She had seen people recover from severe trauma, some in months or years. Koharu's hand clenched unexpectedly. *What savages,* She thought *Destroy the body of one and the mind of another?* Kazane could still come back, but Koharu could do little to help. She could do little of anything, it seemed.

She looked at Mai, completely lost. She had heard the ambassador speak, but the words had barely registered in Koharu's mind. She counted up all of the gathered Cranes, at the collection of guards now present, and the servants still trying to work while pretending not to eavesdrop. 

"Please bring something for our guests," Koharu said, "Cushions, tea, warm water. Whatever it is they need. Some more light would be welcome too."

Then she turned to address Mai.

"We appreciate your offer of assistance, Moshi-sama. If we can cooperate to bring an end to those responsible, that could also close some old wounds shared by our two clans. And I assure you, while visiting this embassy no representative of another clan may be harmed. 

"While the true criminals are not yet known, any blame or violence directed toward the Mantis Clan will result in the most *Severe* Of punishments, this I vow."

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Emily
Mai stepped aside so the other crane that arrived could get to Kazane. She would fuss and pull away in protest, looking confused and angry. "No! I have to find Kakita-sama! Yusuki-sama? Where... Let me go!" She was much too weak to escape, so her protests were just feeble, and shouts into the void of her own mind. That poor girl. _Desperately trying to reach out for someone that was already gone..._


The offer of tea and cushions struck Mai by surprise, but it only made sense. Even in a crisis, expect a Crane to promote proper etiquette. She quickly instructed the servant that water would be fine, and turned her full attention back to Koharu. 

The acceptance of aid was surprising as well, but taken at face value and with acceptance. "Then we are in agreement, Doji-sama," She said, "And as rare as our cooperation is, you'll find us willing and able to help." Mai looked back at Kazane as she was taken away. "My yojimbo said that she fought alongside the late Kakita Yuzuki-san once, and noted she was an honorable woman. Crane or not, anyone that my yojimbo speaks highly of must be a good person. For she _rarely_ speaks highly of _anyone."_ 

An involuntary scoff of a laugh left her, but she cleared her throat to focus. She didn't know much about the scenario. She _did_ know that Yuzuki was alive and well a few days ago, but with Kazane in shock and Yuzuki dead, it was hard to say for how long.

"Now, I am no investigator," Mai said, "But I used to be a great pirate, and great pirates build grudges. I'm of the mind that whoever did this attack will not be attacking other Crane or samurai randomly. Surely this was a personal hit..." WIth a thought, she looked back at Koharu. "Doji-san, did Kakita Yuzuki issue a report of her conflict with a gang, back in winter? My yojimbo issued one, but I don't recall the details. That might give us an idea of who might be at fault. 

"There's also the matter of her remains." Mai didn't want to bring it up, but it was important. "Her body is at the crematorium, as I noted. She will not be burned or disturbed until your lot arrive, so you can have everything done to your clan's standards." 

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Brian
*A self-proclaimed pirate, for an ambassador?* Koharu's heart sank a bit. There was no forgetting the *Foreignness* Of the Mantis Clan, even though they were Rokugani, and even if their goals aligned with the goals of the Crane tonight. She closed her eyes briefly. *Don't dwell on this. You wanted to cooperate. Don't throw away this chance.*

"If you would excuse me for a moment, Moshi-sama. There are dozens of reports of minor to severe conflicts from last winter in our records. Allow me to look for... For her name."

For matters of security, Koharu had a personal archive which she herself curated, for ease of search. Koharu took little time to locate the exact document - a report penned for her by a scribe, but with Kakita Yuzuki's own words copied in exactness as part of the letter, and details on the location of the original within the greater embassy archive.

"Here it is," Koharu said, unfolding it and spreading it out on the middle of a table for all to see. "Stamped with her personal chop. Perhaps you recall a similar date on the report from your yojimbo? It says here an incident occurred on Moment's Edge Bridge, that she, Kazane-san and one 'Chiyoko-san' were caught in a brawl between the Moment's Edge and Strong Arm firefighter crews. Both crews suffered casualties. Other damages, minimal. Personal wounds... Also minimal."

Koharu scanned the rest of the document, but it was somewhat bare. She figured that Kazane was likely the one who wrote and filed the original, and that likely she did not stay long on that bridge after the fight.

"We may have a debt to settle with these fire crews," Koharu said grimly. She felt heat rise to her neck and her ears. She had felt helpless a moment ago, and her anger had been suppressed by that feeling. Now the truth was somewhere, somewhere tangible. 

"Even if it wasn't them, maybe they know something. We do this carefully, Moshi-sama. And I would like to speak to your yojimbo about this. Kakita-san's remains... We will collect them as soon as we can. I'm going to Moment's Edge Bridge tomorrow to gather clues."

She stood, looking at the other Cranes. "And not *One* Of you approaches either of those gangs without my permission. If they bested Kakita Yuzuki, they can beat *Any* One of you fools."

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Emily
Moshi Mai thought about the question, trying to recall what Chiyoko had written. "I had just taken over as Ambassador at the time," She noted, "So that would have been... Yes, yes I recall it." She looked back to Koharu. "Chiyoko noted the same. Strong Arm and Moment's Edge, starting a gang fight. Kakita-sama and Chiyoko were caught in the middle, along with Kazane. I think the Moment's Edge leader of that particular group was slain outright, and the Strong Arm survived..." 

Thinking about it, it might be the Strong Arm that were responsible. They were getting too big for their britches, as of recently. "Problem with the fireman gangs are they provide a service, as tainted with crime as it is. It makes dealing with them outright difficult, but not impossible to deal with." Mai might need to speak with Silver-chan about this. Figure out a way to halt as much collateral damage as possible. 

"Chiyoko-san is with Kakita Yuzuki as we speak," Mai explained, "And she will speak the truth if you ask her, and she will assist you if needed. Same for my Magistrate, if you deem it necessary. Ultimately, I will leave it to you and yours to handle this. It's Crane business, so handle it as you see fit." 

Mai never figured she'd be helping the Crane, but with all that was on the line, it was the only right step. As morbid as it was, this might just make their relations better, other than worse. "If you wish, I can call upon my daughter, Fujiko," She added. "She's a shugenja like myself, but her focus is healing. She may be able to ease Kazane-san's mind enough to get information from her." 

Turning to Kitsu Miu, she gave a bow. "Apologies for dragging you into this, Kitsu-san. You don't need to be involved any more than this, if you so desire." 
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Brian
Koharu nodded. The confirmation only stoked her fury, which she knew was dangerous. Any gang brazen enough to slay a Great Clan samurai had to be prepared for a retaliatory move - if they were still holed in the same place. Either they would lay low for a while, or they were ready for violence. Regardless of which, moving her ashigaru without scouting the bridge out first would be risky.

"Thank you, Moshi-sama, for all you have done for us," Koharu said as she folded the report neatly closed. "I will visit tomorrow with a crew to collect Kakita-san's remains. Please inform Chiyoko-san that Doji Koharu, head of the Crane Embassy Guard, would like a meeting. And for Kazane-san... Yes, I would be grateful to hear your daughter's evaluation."

It made Koharu uncomfortable to further tether herself to the Mantis. She knew nothing of Mantis shugenja practices, and could not guess what spiritual healing might do to Kazane at this stage. But Koharu could not bear to leave Kazane untreated, and that weakness had forced her hand.

"Please, all, stay here for as long as you wish, leave at your own pleasure. May the Fortunes never forsake you, as they have this house."

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Coleen
Miu had simply listened to this unfolding. Her politics were poor and she knew her position in this. But she also knew that Mai had risked a lot only being here. Therefore she bowed down towards the shugenja she had looked up to the most. A friendly smile grew on her face before she spoke. *"Moshi-sama, I wish not to disobey your will, but if you let me, I will be by your side. I wish for you to not go through this on your own. After all, if it was not for me bluntly challenging you we would never be here."* 

Miu stated. It was clear that she wished not to leave Mai's side until things were safe and settled. *"I do not doubt your skill as an Ambassador and I envy it. But a third party will always remain here in case things escalate."* The last sentence she had mumbled a bit. Making sure not to piss off the crane even more. 

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Elaine
Kiyoko had stayed silent and out of the way after her question to Koharu had been ignored. It would seem that there were no Crane shugenja on-hand to deal with the situation, anyway. Kiyoko made a mental note to request later that she be allowed to attend the Mantis embassy on the morrow, as a representative of the Kakita family. For that matter, she would have to insist that she be allowed to participate in any raids of these firemen gangs. 

She was drawn out of her reflections by the Lion samurai-ko. The woman was unfamiliar to her, though this was hardly any surprise, given how newly she had arrived to Ryoko Owari. Still, did she truly think that a Lion would be considered a *Neutral* Third party in any situation involving the Crane?

"If it pleases Kitsu-san, Doji-sama has welcomed her to stay. Rest assured that no harm will befall the ambassador on these grounds should she leave, however."

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Emily
It would seem everything that needed to be said was said. The actions in the immediate were made, and more for the coming morning as well. Moshi Mai was satisfied with all that was planned, and optimistic that it might just yield results. 

Someone, or a group of someones, killing samurai... She couldn't help but worry if her own child might become a target someday. The scorpion that was slain by the gaijin Williams came to mind. Could this be more Kolat treachery? Or was this just the gangs making good on a promise made? Chiyoko may be in danger as well... 

Mai snapped out of her worry when the other Crane and Lion spoke up. "Ah, yes... I think I shall returned to my own embassy, for now. A spar with Kistu-san and this unwelcome news... Well, it's drained me." She gave a bow to the women. "Thank you for the hospitality, the words of confidence, and the promise of aid to you all, respectively. You'll find my doors open to you all as we deal with this matter." 

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