After taking some time at the Crab house to meditate and change Daichi had made his was to the riverside a bit before the archery contest to have a brief look around.

Things like this should of occurred to him sooner, but neck deep in deals he had never thought to just go out and look for a fox merchant ship.

Well that time was now, maybe it would shine some light on a few things if he managed to find something.

Day 12. Investigation at the riverside. Investigation/perception | 5k3 ⇒ 27

"Fox merchants? Nah, Crab-sama. But they did catch a barge comin' up. It's that one over there, tied off two or three downstream now."

With no reason not to have a look Daichi gave the helpful strangers a polite nod in thanks before making his way down towards the barge in question.

A lone samurai on duty, clearly a Fox by the mon and the stalk of grass hanging out of his mouth, stands up from where he's been sitting.

"Afternoon, Hiruma-sama," he says, giving a bow. "What all c'n I do ya for?"

Daichi was a bit surprised that one was actually there, even had the stalk of grass Akio was missing.

Offering the man a polite bow he paused a moment before speaking. "Well to avoid walking around the bush I'll get right to it."

"I've talked a bit with Kitsune Akio-Sama about a few things, and I've decided I need to hear a bit more about it to get a feel for things. I was hoping to find get some input from you and some other of your clan if you have the time."

"I'm th' only one here at th' moment, Hiruma-sama," says the young bushi. "Tell ya what all I c'n tell ya, o' course.

"Whatcha wanna know 'bout?"

The stalk of grass bobs as he talks.

"Well, honestly I want to hear a bit about what you think of Kitsune-sama. In the course of our talks she brought up a few concerns she had for the future."

"She said she was running into some difficulties with a few things in Fox lands, and while I trust her word on these things. It's not the sort of thing I can really commit any support for if I don't know more."

"So if you share a bit about you and your clans feelings about her and any ideas you might have on the difficulties she faces it would be appreciated."

"Oh, yeah, sure!" the Fox man says. "Folks love Aiko-sama! She's doin' a bang-up job keepin' everythin' movin' back t' home an' here!"

The stalk of grass fairly leaps about as he talks.

"She's gotta do it, on account of 'er brother an' all."

"She does seem to be doing a fine job." He agreed with a nod. As far as he'd seen that was the case.

"On account of her brother though?" He asked curiously. "Pardon me for asking but is Lord Kitsune okay? You make it sounds like he is ill."

"He ain't sick, 'xactly," Daichi's interlocutor replies. "But we've all seen 'im wanderin' th' woods lookin' like he's been poleaxed, talkin' t' stuff as ain't there. Damn shame, really."

"That's indeed a shame." Daichi replied with a small shake of his head. "It's a blessing indeed then that you have his sister to step in and help as much as she does."

"I know for certain that she has well served your clans interests in her time here."

"Oh, yeah," the Fox agrees. "She always do!"

He was glad to hear that the man thought well of Akio, that helped and while it was likely that others didn't agree with him, it did put some weight behind her words. "I appreciate your candor Kitsune-san."

"It's helped me quite a bit."

"Glad t'help!" the Fox replies, enthusiastically. So much so that he nearly drops his stalk of grass out of his mouth.

Daichi dipped his head in thanks to the man. "I'll leave you to your duty then, I know it's not the most exciting things, but it's hard to watch and talk at the same time."

"Oh, yeah!"

The Fox nods vigorously, the stalk of grass swaying.

"You have a good'n, now, y' hear?"

"You too!" Daichi returned with a bow before taking his leave.

/exit.

/scene, and thanks!