It was cold in the narrow hallway where Iroha sat. The morning sun had yet to creep up over the eastern horizon. A man stood before the rice paper door that led to Lord Takezou Amoru's council room. Even this early in the morning the man wore full samurai armor, a katana and wakazashi were tied firmly into his obi. He stared straight forward looking like a statue.<br/><br/>A hushed discussion was going on in the main chamber. Iroha stained her ears to hear part of it.<br/><br/>"Do you really want to resort to that?" said a hushed voice.<br/><br/>"I will remind you, Mamoru, who is your lord here." The second voice belonged to Lord Amoru.<br/><br/>"But, you really want to use HER? She is young and I don't trust her. Can she really be relied on for such an important mission?"<br/><br/>"Her skills are needed. Shadow must be met by shadow. Besides her service in the past has been impeccable. There is no reason to believe she will not be successful."<br/><br/>"But, my lord..."<br/><br/>"Silence! I will speak no more of this."<br/><br/>"Yes my lord."<br/><br/>The sound of geta footed steps echoed across the wooden floors and the door slid open. An older man stepped out and looked at Iroha sitting in the hallway. He snorted and walked past her his steps echoing around the halls.<br/><br/>The samurai standing in the hallway turned and motioned toward the door. "You may enter now," the man said in a formal tone. His words were even and calm.<br/><br/>In the room Lord Amoru stood in a gray kimono a sword tucked into his obi. At his feet lay a corpse dressed in black. Only the corpses eyes showed through the thin slit on the mask. Lord Amoru turned and looked at Iroha in the hallway, a grim smile on his tense face.