William
Iemon seated himself behind his desk, collecting his thoughts. *How exactly had it come to this?* He thought to himself, idly folding his arms and frowning. He shut his eyes, trying to focus his thoughts, but an almost unfamiliar emotion kept breaking concentration.

Not frustration, that was an old friend at this point. This was...

***Anger.***

A simple missive had been sent to Isawa Taisei, polite, but curt, requesting he report to the ambassador immediately. 

No tea was being prepared this evening, no refreshments or snacks would be proffered. This was possibly the most serious discussion Iemon would have had to have with one of his clan-mates. But based on what he'd had reported to him, as well as the scandal of the rumors in the city proper, it was a necessary one. 

*Better to have this talk before the Unicorn pound down the door demanding restitution.* Iemon sighed. *We'll be lucky to salvage any positive inclinations from them at this point.*

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David
Taisei made his way slowly and solemnly to the embassy. He knew full well what this could be about. He definitely saw this coming after Inadoma led him directly to the Phoenix Embassy after the incident to notify the ambassador. He couldn't help but feel completely and utterly ashamed of himself. He knew for a samurai regret was a sin, but he couldn't help feeling that way. It's only natural to be regretful when you make such an awful mistake. He knew Iemon was a tolerant and understanding man, but who could keep their cool in the face of such an atrocity. After the longest walk of his life he made it to the embassy and entered the ambassador's office. He decided that he would just throw himself at his mercy. He kneeled and bowed himself to the ground. Without bothering to raise himself back to his feet he sat up and said, "Shiba-sama I beg you. Please listen. I know what this is about and I-I-"
William
"*Silence.*" Iemon's voice is firm, controlled, but it is plain that he is forcing himself to keep his emotions even somewhat contained. 

"Do you know how difficult a thing peace is to construct, let alone hold on to? The effort to force life into such an... Ephemeral construct, without snuffing it out is about control. Over others, eventually, but over oneself first. Self-mastery is the first step to proving worthy of any other mastery in life. 

"The Tao of Shinsei tells us 'Do not judge a man by the lord he serves. Judge him by his choice of enemies.' "

He looks at the younger man, a flash his anger crossing his face. "Tell me, Isawa Taisei, how shall I judge you making an enemy of the entirety of the Leatherworker's Quarter, a young heimin girl, and a prominent member of the Unicorn Clan, *Who were well disposed to us,* In this city?"

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David
Taisei hung his head in shame abashed. "I-I truly am sorry Shiba-sama," He replied tears stating to well up again. "I know I didn't think this through, but please believe me. I swear by the kami that I did not intend for all this to happen. I had never even cast that spell before. I only intended to knock her out. How could I know that it would cause all this. I didn't mean to cause such an uproar. Please have mercy."
William
"It is not our intent the Kami judge, but our results, Isawa. The results garnered here are... Frankly, phenomenally bad." Iemon pulls his fan out, keeping it closed, and grips it in his lap, his knuckles slowly growing white as he applies more pressure.

"You never invoked the Kami in such a way before? What is the name of that particular invocation? Like a brute, you elect to test it on a heimin, as if it were a new katana? If you were so unsure, I suggest non-living targets for any other 'experiments' in the future." The level of disdain in his voice only grew as he continued to speak. "How seriously could I take it if a bushi came to me, saying 'Oh, Shiba-sama, I did not mean to hurt someone, I had never cut someone with a blade before, I did not know?' Preposterous."

Iemon sighs, his grip loosening on his fan. "Mercy is not mine to grant, Taisei. We are beyond mere apologies, and both of us will be subject to many demands. You, for committing such actions, and I, because I have sworn the same as Kami Shiba before me, to protect the Isawa. This is, unfortunately, the first that I have come to wish I was not so sworn."

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David
"Is there not any path to forgiveness Shiba-sama?" Taisei asked get even more distraught. "Is there nothing I can do? There must be some kind of retribution that can be enacted to solve this. Please I'll do anything or take any punishment. I must rectify this. I do not wish for my kinsmen to continue to be dishonored by my actions."
William
*Forgiveness?* Iemon blinks, trying to regain control of his anger.

"What absolution do you expect me to offer, Taisei?" He pulls from beside his seat a small towel, with a smear of dirt on it, and slaps it down on the desk between them. "Do you know what this is? This is the *Dirt* That I wiped from my forehead after apologizing to the Utaku you nearly struck with lightning. Your actions do not just reflect poorly on you, but on the entire Clan as a whole. In that same way, there is no simple forgiveness that can be offered. The world does not end with you, and if this is the first that you learn this lesson, then it is better that you hear it from me rather than someone else."

He stands, forcing himself to only step angrily to the front of his armor stand, staring at the empty mempo as if somehow staring at the necessary, violent part of him that he kept locked away. " 'I must rectify,' 'I do not wish...' " He shakes his head, turning to the shugenja. "That is the tragedy here. You are thinking as an individual, and ignoring your part in the greater whole. We all have our part, from the least to the greatest. To ignore that is to invite dysfunction."

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David
"But this is my mistake," Taisei replied fervently. "It is my fault this has happened. I chose to do what I did, and I alone should bear the responsibility. Why should they blame our entire clan for something I did, for the actions of one man. It doesn't make sense. Our entire clan should not suffer for this."
William
"I do not mean to discount that it is your 'mistake' here. It very much is, make no doubt about that. But you wear the mon of our Clan, have been trained in our Clan's schools, and thus represent more than just yourself. The Clan's actions are associated with you, just as your actions are associated with the Clan. Utaku Masanori, for instance, was quick to lay at my feet the fact that there are many in our Clan who look down on the Unicorn's approach to the kami, even though I have never expressed such sentiment. It cannot be helped."

Iemon shook his head, his expression softening very slightly. "Your desire to try and make things right is good. I commend you for that. Our first action, then, will be to publicly apologize for your poor judgment. Further terms will be asked of us, I have no doubt, from Utaku Kazuko herself once she learns of this."

He returns to his seat, straightening his kimono as he settles in again. "On the one hand, we must do all we can to preserve the fragile peace of this city. If their wrath can be assuaged by directing it at the two of us, rather than the Clan as a whole, then that will be a worthy sacrifice."

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David
"I understand," Taisei replied. "We're in this together. You're right. I didn't think how it would effect all of us when I did what I did, and I acted rashly. I promise to do better in the future. From this day forth I make this solemn vow. I swear by the kami that from hence forth I will guard my actions that this will never happen again. If I don't, then may the kami strike me down. Now tell me. Where do we start making this right?"
William
"Where? Well, that at least is an easy question. The Unicorn Embassy." Iemon says, more than a hint of wry tone to his words. He folds his arms, tucking his fan back into his sleeve, and considers. "We will pen a message, announce a desire to meet with the Unicorn, and prostrate ourselves before the embassy when we greet them, and will accept either their publicly addressing the issue, but more than likely they will accept our invitation to at least come inside. But..."He closes his eyes and nods, almost to himself, "...The public apology and abasement of ourselves will, I hope, at least demonstrate the sincerity of our apology and desire to make things right." Kazuko had done similar in the meeting they had recently hosted at the Phoenix embassy, but since what she was apologizing for was strictly between the two Clans, the somewhat private nature of her apology was warranted. Since Taisei's actions had been far more public, the apology had to begin there if they were to maintain any credibility in the city at this point.

"At the barest minimum, Taisei-san, you can expect to be publicly repudiated for these actions, and to remain under house arrest on the embassy grounds. I cannot speak to a duration, as there has been a stated threat on your life, I am told."

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David
"Alright," Taisei agreed. "I will be glad to do this. Anything to fix this. But before we go please tell me one more thing. Did the girl at least survive. She was alive when I left, but Utaku-san had Agasha-san ran away with her in a different direction that Shinjo-sama took me. I don't know what happened to her after that. Please, I must know."
William
"I am told she will live, yes, and that due to that Utaku Masanori-san was more indulgent in his mercy than he may have otherwise." Iemon said, thinking again of how much more poorly things may have gone when Masanori had come to 'visit' with his entourage. 

"We will send a message, asking when the Unicorn will grant us their presence. Until then, you will sequester yourself within the embassy grounds with minimal contact with anyone, the better to meditate upon your failure. Do you understand?" An air of command returned to his voice, and the look he gave to the Shugenja made it clear he would not brook dissent from this.

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David
Taisei breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that the girl will survive. He didn't know how he would have been able to live with himself if she had died. It didn't matter if she was a peasant or not. He couldn't bear the thought of being responsible for someone's death. "I understand Shiba-sama," He replied. "It is only fair. Also, I don't know if I can ask this, but can I see or at least send a message to Daidoji-san? He's my friend and he deserves to know what happened to me. It's the least I can do for him, especially since he kept me from taking my own life. I put him through a lot, and I think it's only right to give him closure."
William
"I believe it would be good to have Daidoji-san come here. It will give me an opportunity for... Another perspective on the incident." Despite the anger he still felt regarding it, Masanori's testimony had been immediately affirmed by Taisei's open admission. *Getting a third corroboration at the very least cements the details of the incident. Not that it will change the current course of events much, if at all.* 

"Perhaps we should also invite the Crane ambassador as well. It may be wise to seek their assistance in the political ramifications of all of this." Whether he would take their advice or not, getting an outside perspective to the tense situation would benefit the decisions made going forward.

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David
After all this time kneeling on the floor Taisei finally rose himself his feet. "I thank you Shiba-sama," He replied with a bow. "That's so kind of you. It will be nice to have my friend with me. I'm sure he would be happy to share his point of view of the incident. Though he might have a little different perspective, I suspect that his view will likely be mostly the same. As for involving the Crane ambassador in this. I'm not sure I see how involving another party in this will help anything, but what have we got to lose."
William
"Know this: this has nothing to do with my kindness, and everything to do with my vow. Politically, this is a travesty, and would have been a far easier thing to tell you to honorably exit this mortal coil. But..." Iemon's expression softens, once again. "Perhaps I am too kind, then. I correct myself." 

He was about to say more when a hurried but soft knock of a servant at the door interrupted him. "Pardon for the intrusion, Shiba-sama, but Utaku Kazuko-sama, The Voice of the Unicorn, is here and desires to speak with you. She has been granted entry to the waiting area along with her interpreter."

Iemon took a breath and nodded. "Very well. It is late, please brew some tea, and... Warm some sake. I will offer it to them, but I have a feeling even if they decline I will have need of it after. Once Isawa-san and I are in the small dining room, please show them in." The servant bows and departs.

He turns to Taisei. "It seems we'll be able to make this apology sooner than anticipated. You will be with me, apologize with the most profuse capability that you have, and I will excuse you from the rest of our meeting. There will likely be much to discuss, and having you there as a prominent reminder of what has transpired will do little to soothe the tension. Do you understand?"

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David
"I understand Shiba-sama," Taisei replied. "Oh man. I wasn't expecting this to come so soon. I'm so nervous I haven't prepared. What do I do? Wh-what do I say? I don't want to mess up again. What if he won't forgive me?"