Janice
Ukagahiko, began the letter for the formal meeting.
"To the Honourable Crab Clan, Defenders of the empire, shield of the nation,
I, Bayushi no Rokugo Ukagahiko hereby ask for a formal meeting to discuss a possible trade agreement between our clans. If you would be so kind, I would like to hopefully set the time of the meeting to be after midday and lunch."

Handing the letter to a messager, Ukagahiko told the younger gentleman "By Bayushi himself, run like your life depends on it." The young gentlemen arrives short of breath at the Crab clan embassy
Joshua
*The same breathless messenger returned to Ukagahiko with Umeo's response. The short window of time implied that the letter had been received and processed with efficiency. The missive sent by the Yasuki Auditor was written in practiced calligraphy, the curling letters leaning more toward precision than grace. The heavy paper, with a blueish tinge so mild as to be pastel, carried the scent of summer sunbeams - bright citrus notes wrapped in ginger and rosemary.*

Bayushi no Rokugo Ukagahiko,
I have received and approved your request for audience. I will expect your arrival during the hour of the goat, today. ||2-4p|| In order to give your request the attention it deserves, I would find it advantageous if you sent in advance any documentation that you would like to use to support your proposal. 
Yasuki Umeo
Auditor

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Janice
*Arriving with the trade agreement document in hand, along with a gift for Umeo. Dressed in his formal Scorpion clan Kuro-montsuki. Knocking on the door he waits for either a servant or lower ranking samurai to answer the door. Calmly he begins to re-read his document to ensure several things.*
Joshua
The door to the Crab Embassy opened with a low, resonant creak, revealing a servant whose eyes met Ukagahiko's with a practiced blend of deference and scrutiny. "Bayushi no Rokugo Ukagahiko, I presume? Yasuki Umeo awaits you. Please, follow me."

Umeo sat at his desk, a sturdy construction of dark-stained oak, its surface adorned with scrolls, inkstones, and a meticulously arranged tea set. The room itself was a blend of Crab austerity and Yasuki opulence. Iron vases holding arrangements of chrysanthemums and irises stood on side tables, their petals a vivid contrast to the room's subdued palette. The scent of sandalwood incense mingled with the more earthy aroma of freshly brewed tea. As Ukagahiko entered, Umeo rose slowly, his movements imbued with quiet dignity. "Bayushi no Rokugo Ukagahiko-san, welcome. I trust your journey here was uneventful?"

Umeo gestured to a cushioned seat across from his desk. "Please, have a seat. I have prepared some tea, a blend of green and jasmine, a humble offering to set the tone for our discussion." Pouring the tea with practiced grace, Umeo's hands moved like a seasoned sailor adjusting the sails—each motion precise, each gesture exercising balance and control. The liquid flowed into the cups like a gentle stream finding its way through a tranquil garden, its aroma rising to fill the room.

"As you've come with documents, I assume you have a proposal in mind that requires more than casual conversation. I appreciate your preparedness. It speaks well of you," Umeo said, setting the teapot down. His eyes, dark pools of wisdom and experience, briefly met Ukagahiko's. The Crab's deep voice was imbued with the gravitas of a man who understood that words spoken in this room could reverberate through the halls of power across Rokugan when he asked, "Shall we begin?" 

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Janice
Taking the cushioned seat across Yasuki Umeo bring forth two documents, handing over one in a smooth "Greetings Yasuki-san, I thank you for accepting this meeting, this document is the prototype of the trade deal however it is subject to change during this meeting."  
"I have brought more paper just encase the deal is not as desired. I remember that the medical opium is needed in the Crab clan lands, because of the shadowlands." Pointing to the item on the contract, moving onward. "I have also added some other obligations for both the crab clan and the scorpion clan, as well as possible ways to lower the cost for the crab clan's obligation." Pointing to other items on the contract.

"If you have any suggestions I am willing to change the document to try to fit it. The second document that I have is a gift for you a calligraphic poem I made when I was a young samurai travelling through the crab clan, " A calligraphic poem/art piece in the form of a Crab grabbing a fish is handed over to Yasuki Umeo.
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Joshua
Yasuki Umeo accepted the documents with a nod, his expression unreadable as stone. The weight of the paper between his fingers felt like the balance of a well-forged katana—substantial, promising, yet potentially dangerous. He placed the trade proposal on the desk, his fingers lingering on the edge of the parchment as if to gauge the depth of the insult hidden within its lines.

"Bayushi no Rokugo Ukagahiko-san, your journey into the art of calligraphy is commendable," He said, acknowledging the gifted poem politely. "The Crab grasping the fish—an apt metaphor for seizing opportunity and asserting strength. I shall cherish this."

He then turned his attention to the trade document, his eyes scanning the text with the meticulous care of a master artisan inspecting his craft. It was a gambit, a test of his patience and acumen.

Umeo's gaze lifted from the document to meet Ukagahiko's eyes. "I see you have put much thought into this proposal," He said, his tone even, betraying none of the insult he felt. "Indeed, the medical opium is a necessity for our warriors braving the Shadowlands. However, the terms presented here are... Unexpected."

He paused, allowing the word to hang like the final note of a shamisen's string plucked with too much force. "Unexpected," He repeated, the word a veiled blade wrapped in silk. "I shall need to discuss this with my superiors, of course. The Crab Clan values its alliances and trade agreements, ensuring they are built on mutual respect and benefit."

Umeo rose, the rustle of his kimono the only sound in the tense silence. He moved to the window, looking out at the embassy's garden where the stone paths wound like the complex trade routes he managed. "The scent of the earth after rain, the strength of iron, the resilience of wood—these are the essences of the Crab Clan," He mused aloud. Turning back to Ukagahiko, Umeo's face was a mask of polite diplomacy. "I will retain this proposal for further review. You have given us much to consider, and it is only proper to give it the attention it deserves."

He walked Ukagahiko to the door, his steps measured, his posture the epitome of Crab dignity. "I thank you for your visit and your... Illuminating offer. May your path be as clear and as straight as the blade of a katana. And may you always find the strength to bear the scents that accompany you, for they are as much a part of one's presence as the finest silk or the sharpest steel."

With that, Umeo slid the door closed with a soft click.