KITSUKI AKANO<br/><br/>I stood up from the body I was searching and looked at the Crane. I knew him slightly from having been to the consulate once before during my stay to take tea with a party of Dragon invited there under the leadership of Jotomon-san. It had been a large and formal gathering and I was unsure if the magistrate would even remember me.<br/><br/><em>Doji Oruku-san, that is his name. I remember now. Crane magistrate to the city. One of the few people I have met here that I feel I can trust.</em><br/><br/><strong>"Doji Oruku-san, <em>konbanwa. Atashi wa Kitsuki Akano wa.</em>"</strong>I bowed to him,<strong>"An <em>Ise-zumi</em>, you said, running away with a stolen sword from the Crane consulate? This was earlier this evening - I understood the Emerald Magistrates were conducting an investigation into banditry or corrupt trading. But now, twice <em>oni</em> have been mentioned."</strong><br/><br/>I smiled at the magistrate,<strong>"I would not place any weight behind the fact you saw an <em>Ise-zumi</em>. If an <em>Ise-zumi</em> does not wish to be seen, you will not see him. The fact that you did see him, indicates he wished to be observed, thus his simple presence is a device to confuse you. He is not acting for the Dragon but for the master who paid him to be seen."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"No <em>Ise-zumi</em> would wield a blade. He was carrying it for another,"</strong>I added as my thoughts tumbled into place.<br/><br/>I caught the slight glance from the lady I had assumed to be a merchant but the<em>ofuda</em>she held led me to think she was<em>shugenja</em>. Her eyes lacked openness and contained the clouded cast of mistrust.<em>A group of Emerald Magistrates who do not share full trust? Very unusual.</em><br/><br/>I nodded to her with a calm open expression on my face and abandoning my search stepped closer to her, taking up a stance from which I could defend myself and her.<br/><br/><strong>"You may think me naïve,"</strong>I said to her calmly, but looking to my front,<strong>"Joining a cause that is unknown to me. Though I am beside you nonetheless."</strong><br/><br/>One of the other<em>bushi</em>produced a key. Now it appeared we may be getting somewhere.<br/><br/><hr/>[<em>Konbanwa. Atashi wa Kitsuki Akano wa.</em>- Good evening. I am Akano Kitsuki.]