Yoru reads the letter once from top to bottom over the course of a few moments, glances to the geisha across the table as if not entirely sure he believes what he's reading, and reads it once again, incredulously mouthing the word 'gaijin?' as he did.  He had half-suspected a half-dozen possibilities when she had asked for a private audience, but this was definitely not among them.<br/><br/>After a moment, he let himself laugh -- a single, amused note -- and folded the letter together.  "Gaijin," he murmurs to himself.  Then, to the young woman, he goes on, more authoritative:  "No honorable samurai could countenance letting whatever insult they have planned come to pass.  I will serve as the Miya-sama requests.  When do we leave, and where are these forces gathering?"