[Day 3 LA - Expecting] Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It

[Daidoji Sae]

Sae watches the activity on the road with a grim expression as columns of ashigaru and helpers rush way and the injured or recently homeless come from the other.

The spirits were displeased and the people of the empire paid the price.

After a few moments Sae realises she has been gripping the hilt of her blade like a vice and takes a moment to force herself to calm.

The only good that could come of this was that at least it would be hard to hear anything over the din.

[Matsu Masumi]

Snip

It would have been so much better if Masumi had taken Haku with her and held him in her arms. Alas that was not to be, not on this day. The dog might not have been enough to lift her spirits with all the commotion going about.

"Daidoji-sama," she announced during her approach. "There is not much time before we must return to court, yes?" She didn't want momentary absence to be misconstrued.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Fear not Matsu-san, I shall be quick."
Her eyes follow another group setting out before she turns and bows politely.

"But I needed to speak with you on a matter of importance. And the castle has too many prying eyes and ears. Sometimes it takes a crowd to be truly alone."

Sae gestures for the Lion to come closer.
"It may be nothing, or it may be everything."

[Matsu Masumi]

Snip

"Surely there must be a spot within the castle that would be away from prying eyes and ears." Masumi frowned, wondering how low one would stoop so as to eavesdrop! Certain areas might have been cordoned off but that didn't mean people were supposed to listen.

Nonetheless she approached as requested. This was all turning out to be a bit more dramatic than she'd anticipated. "Is this related to our duties then?" Surely it was not some sort of other confession...! Sae was betrothed!

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

Sadly, Sae did not announce a hidden and deranged love for Masumi, such was the price of honour.

"The obvious spot to speak in private is the one most overheard by those who know what they are doing, and they are the ones we must deal with."

She steps forward and raises a sleeve to cover her mouth.
"You would have heard about the attack on the Crane accommodation? Intruders spotted in the night who then fled?"

[Matsu Masumi]

Snip

If not for honor though...? That would be ridiculous, Masumi would never... Unless?

"Is this not also maybe an obvious spot?" Though when she looked around, she didn't think she'd see many people who could be right next to them. A sleeve, however made sense.

"Uh, no. I definitely didn't hear about that." Unless time shenanigans happened where Haku's man mentioned it. But even if he had, then she might have been too focused on Haku. "What?!"

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"I will have to provide compliments to the skill of anyone who can overhear us over this."
Sae nods approvingly as Masumi raises her fan.

"Indeed, two attempt to infiltrate the building, if not for a few sharp-eared samurai lives might have been lost." She pauses and her tone hardens. "There are children in there, such skulduggery is unacceptable. The perpetrators must be found and brought to justice."

She looks Masumi in the eye. "I am asking you to assist with the investigation and if necessary, lead components of it. I cannot say where it will need, and discretion may be required for the sake of the court and the empire."

[Matsu Masumi]

Snip

Dogs possessed vastly superior noses to humans. Perhaps there was some sort of creature that could hear them very well and then relay it afterwards! That was incredibly paranoid, however.

"I wonder why I wasn't alerted sooner." Then again, if the earthquake didn't stir up the court, then neither would this. Plus nobody had even mentioned the Divine Wind that had passed through in there!

"Yes this is our duty." She pressed her lips together. "Where do you suggest that I start then?" Her skills mainly pertained to punching people in the face, after all.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Your assistance is appreciated, I only regret that this has occurred before I could better instruct you."

Sae frowns slightly, trying to work out the best plan of attack for Masumi.
"We have two further facts to work from. A shred of thin black cloth was found at the scene, likely from one of the assailants. It is possible a shugenja could wring more from it."

She pauses for a moment before adding. "And a scrap of paper also found at the scene with the characters for -guya. You are not to discuss that evidence with anyone outside the investigation for now. Hearsay and rumour can be dangerous. But it might provide us with a lead as to who would seek to implicate the Scorpion. Tell me if anyone comes to mind."

Her eyes flicker back to the castle.
"My cousin Ryu is another you may trust for this investigation. He has a certain talent for these things, and my trust."

[Matsu Masumi]

Snip

Masumi might have been insulted if she didn't know it was true. What even is illegal? Most things to her were just common sense. Oh dear, she should have studied more instead of punched things.

"You have a shugenja among your ranks, yes?" She frowned. "Are any of your fellows under suspicion? I would offer some among my Clan, of course, but you do want to keep it to as few people as possible." Not that she would ever expect any of the Lion to do anything of the sort! That they had failed to provide ample security for the Crane House was another concern entirely.

Her brow furrowed. "Yes, I don't think the Scorpion would bring along a note with them that would implicate themselves. It must be a ruse... Unless this is them trying to make us think that. Would they do that?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Masumi might have been insulted if she didn't know it was true. What even is illegal? Most things to her were just common sense. Oh dear, she should have studied more instead of punched things.

"You have a shugenja among your ranks, yes?" She frowned. "Are any of your fellows under suspicion? I would offer some among my Clan, of course, but you do want to keep it to as few people as possible." Not that she would ever expect any of the Lion to do anything of the sort! That they had failed to provide ample security for the Crane House was another concern entirely.

Her brow furrowed. "Yes, I don't think the Scorpion would bring along a note with them that would implicate themselves. It must be a ruse... Unless this is them trying to make us think that. Would they do that?"

"A double bluff...Matsu-san, perhaps you learnt more from Lies than you let on."
Sae's eyes light up in mirth.

"Indeed, such a cunning plan is not impossible, but you are already on the right path, why would they do such a thing? Surely if they sort our enmity and suspicion their are better ways? Or perhaps it is something more mysterious."

Calmly. "I would start elsewhere perhaps, consider among all the gathered Clans who has the capacity and the desire to infiltrate Crane House and implicate the Crane?

The Crane ourselves? Someone high enough in the Clan to risk their own subordinates? I will not lie, across the empire these things have happened. But the risk is great indeed should they be caught, too great I would hope.

The Lion? Maybe...don't look at me like that, I would never deny a Lion's capacity for effective scouting. But it is hardly the Lion way, and in Kyuden Ikoma? It would hardly seem to do the Clan any favours.

The Scorpion? Certainly they have the availability, but to be so sloppy and to incriminate themselves intentionally or unintentionally...mmmhm, unlikely but possible.

The Crab have the Hiruma, and have not always seen eye to eye with the Crane. Perhaps an attempt to turn us against another foe? It's not impossible, but I see little chance in it, it would be unusual.

The Dragon?...Well who knows with the Dragon, but given what I know it seems very unlikely. That may become more clear in time.

The Phoenix? Mmmhm...maybe they have the means? And there are many in that clan who distrust my own, they are a possibility.

But, once I saw a pack of wild dogs who had lane on an ant colony. The ants swarmed out and bit the dogs who were driven wild with fear and pain, biting at one another and running in all directions. I see this, and I think of the ants. The Mantis and the Tortoise are...well, their methods are known to be unorthodox, their understand of Bushido is different to ours. I can see means and motive with either of those clans."

Sae by now seemed to be rather enjoying herself.
"It is an exciting case indeed, although perhaps you will have limited opportunities to crush evil doers until the very end."

[Matsu Masumi]

Snip

"I studied it," Masumi protested, though deep down she knew that she didn't really understand it. Stupid Scorpion and their stupid books! "Well if we're thinking about misdirection, then maybe it's like presenting as strong where one is weak or weak where one is strong." Likening this to military tactics made it much more palatable to her. "Like a feinting strike... Well, I wouldn't want to raise an alarm for everyone to be on high alert."

As they went over the clans, mention of the Lion did indeed irk her. But her mind went afterwards to what could be the rationale behind this. "Can we rule out a multi-Clan affair? What if someone hired the Scorpion?" She leaned in. "What if they'd meant to get caught at the Crane House but all the while succeeded elsewhere?"

All of this was starting to make her feel paranoid. "This is all assuming they weren't sloppy on accident either." She pressed her lips together. "Are so many cases like this?"