...only to be waylaid by Lord Ikoma Their conversation is quiet, but intense. Lord Ikoma is persistent, but Lady Shiba's words cut him as surely as any sword. He is forced to take a step back, and Lady Shiba strides to the foot of the dais.

Ryota shook his head once. "No, this is important enough to change the subject. Bring it over, Kamoshita-san. Let's have a look."

He does not reply. The concepts are beyond him, just as the offer of hospitality to the catalyst of the delay that broke the Empire is beyond him. His great head falls to his chest. The tears begin to flow, silently, without any contortion of his face. If this is the Ikoma Ryota that Kitsu Sayomi sa...

His frown develops into a scowl. A response! But perhaps not the one hoped-for. His eyes shine like coals as he intones a single word. "No."

Sayomi receives a wince as she asks for Ryota, but no one is willing to long separate his savior from him when she asks. She is led to the study, where she finds her Daimyo staring blankly ahead, breathing very shallowly, unresponsive. "He has been like this ever since the Empress' death. Sometimes ...

"I will expect the letter from the Ageki soon." He nodded to her. "Carry the Fortunes, Agasha-san."

"And here I thought this would have it all wrapped in a bow," he says, holding up her gift. "Was that not the maneuver? You will find, when you work with others, that the less you ask them to accept, the more willing they will be to take it. Now, I have no wish to endure another earthquake, so I am ...

"Then you have my permission."

"You promise to approach it with the reverence that Tengen demands?"

He grimaced. "Gorobei's a fool, Keihime is vile, Tomaru's an anarchist, and Noriko's a Crane. What's not to love?"

Ryota looked down at him. "I appreciate that, Asako-san. Very much."

"A tempting offer...but you've already buttered me up, Agasha-san. Why not take the bite you're looking for?"

"That is quite a gift." Ryota extended his hand. "And all the more desirable for its being given here, privately, rather than amid the strutting and preening of court. Thank you, Agasha-san."

"Agasha-san is gracious to remember its primary function. It warms my heart to know that at least one of those visiting us approaches our greatest work with the proper reverence."

Asako Kenichi wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2025 5:42 pm

"I merely wished to offer my support Ikoma-sama in these trying times."

Earthquake and the Empress blindsiding you isn't fun.

"To be honest, this Winter had taken quite some turns."

"It has," Lord Ikoma replies, looking a little grim. "And the complications continue to grow."

Yuna was shown into Ryota's office, where the Lord of the Ikoma sat at his desk, reading what appeared to be a letter. As she came in, he rose and bowed.

"Agasha-san, good afternoon."

Kenichi frowned at the news. What news! He eyed a familiar figure he wanted to speak to in a good while, slowly approwching the Ikoma daimyo. He bowed deeply, waiting for an audience. It takes a good while for Ryota to shake out of his momentary fugue state over the Empress' announcement. Turning s...

"Are you listening to yourself?" Ryota shakes his head. "Look, I've already given the order to draw a line under this. If it wasn't you," he paused, letting her interject. When nothing was forthcoming, he raised an eyebrow. Still nothing. "Huh. Well, if it wasn't you, and it certainly wasn't her, th...

Ryota sighed. "We haven't the foggiest who it was, Matsu-san. It was a ploy of some kind..."

Ryota looked up from his morning tea, his eyes red-rimmed from lack of sleep.

"What? Why?"