The scarred man's hand fell, irresolutely, towards the hilt of his own katana, but before his fingers clasped the ornamented braid the third Lion samurai -- perhaps sensing that while numbers favored them in a brawl, sake would do the opposite in a duel -- placed a restraining hand on his companion's forearm. A younger bushi whose kimono bore the Akodo family<i>mon</i>as well as that of his clan, he remarked to the older warrior, "There is no honor in this," before turning cool eyes on Sayomi, Sabu, and Michi all crowding the doorway.<br/><br/>"You will forgive my friends, magistrates," he began, his inflection putting the words, unslurred by drink, somewhere between a request and an expectation. "We have spent many days on the road, and perhaps our manners fell behind us and have not yet arrived." He paused there, half-turned, and snapped fingers at the ashigaru, who hastened to their feet and began tidying the furniture. "I am Akodo Takeji, and it would be our great privilege to share the inn."<br/><br/>Beside him, the scarred samurai smoldered, but nevertheless growled, "Yes. Our...<i>privilege</i>."<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>