[D11, EE - Closed] A Suspect Matter

[Daidoji Sae]

The hour of their meeting had come, Sae and co had pushed the investigation as far they could.

Given the great sensitivity of the matter the meeting took place out of the Kyuden in the Emerald Office, Sae entering and removing her hat before nodding politely at the cards.

The Daidoji was clearly tired from a later night and a long day, but kept her back ramrod straight and her shoulders squared. She would not disappoint the Emerald Champion.

[Kakita Hajime]

The Emerald Champion arrived, though not in the Emerald Armor. His posture was the free and easy stride duelists are famous for. But, considering that Kakita Hajime is the duelist, it only stands to reason.

He nods, all smiles, to Daidoji Sae.

"Daidoji-san! You've had a successful day, I hope?"

[Daidoji Sae]

The Emerald Champion arrived, though not in the Emerald Armor. His posture was the free and easy stride duelists are famous for. But, considering that Kakita Hajime is the duelist, it only stands to reason.

He nods, all smiles, to Daidoji Sae.

"Daidoji-san! You've had a successful day, I hope?"

Sae bows deeply and holds it for a few seconds before straightening.

"Some success Kakita-sama, we followed the treachery back out into the eye and found the merchant who hired the ronin, he is currently in custody."

Keeping her eyes on a spot on the wall slightly above and to Hajime's left she continues.
"He has confessed, but was hired by another man who he claims sounded like a local but wore a disguise. It would seem the source of the murders comes from nearby, possibly within the Kyuden itself."

Pausing before venturing on.
"If the man felt the need to disguise himself so thoroughly and to seek out a traveler like this merchant he must have been someone who would be easily recognized. There are only so many wealth samurai matching that description in the castle."

[Kakita Hajime]

Hajime nodded his agreement. "And, if we are fortunate, it is one of the men we have in custody. I knew that you would find what needed to be found working from the bottom, and I, with some help from Lady Seppun, have worked down from the top. In the next room I have Ikoma Jama, Ikoma Ryota's karo, under arrest. Downstairs, his Taisa in charge of the guards has also been placed under arrest for incompetence. My sense is that one of them is your man in the cloak. So I suppose the question is, how do you want to go about putting your merchant to the test?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Hajime nodded his agreement. "And, if we are fortunate, it is one of the men we have in custody. I knew that you would find what needed to be found working from the bottom, and I, with some help from Lady Seppun, have worked down from the top. In the next room I have Ikoma Jama, Ikoma Ryota's karo, under arrest. Downstairs, his Taisa in charge of the guards has also been placed under arrest for incompetence. My sense is that one of them is your man in the cloak. So I suppose the question is, how do you want to go about putting your merchant to the test?"

Sae's eyes widen slightly, not only had Hajime been busy, but two senior samurai had already been arrested.

"A blind test may be best, he may start trying to incriminate anyone we throw in front of him to weasel his way out. If I may Kakita-sama, I would have a few men we know are innocent speak on the other side of a screen one after the other to ensure the merchant is not simply calling everyone guilty. Once we have everything setup we can bring both of those men in and talk to them normally and see if either of their voices match his memory."

Somewhat apologetically.
"I am not sure what worth the merchant's words may be in court, but if these are honourable samurai I would hope they confess when presented with the truth."

[Kakita Hajime]

"I do not think confessions will be a problem. I do have some concern whether further accusations will be made so that the guilt will be spread more thinly. It is often the last refuge of independent actors to cast suspicion on their superiors. But your plan for a blind test seems an appropriate one."

[Daidoji Sae]

"I do not think confessions will be a problem. I do have some concern whether further accusations will be made so that the guilt will be spread more thinly. It is often the last refuge of independent actors to cast suspicion on their superiors. But your plan for a blind test seems an appropriate one."

"Thank you Kakita-sama, I hope it can be one small part of resolving this matter and bring the ultimate perpetrator to justice."
Which sounded a lot like an Ikoma Daimyo.

[Kakita Hajime]

As it happened, Busaemi did initially implicate our favorite Hida yoriki as the man in the cloak. But after a serious discussion, the Karo was, indeed, identified.

What happened next was not precisely what Kakita Hajime predicted. The karo did not implicate Lord Ikoma in the course of making his confession. Indeed, he was nearly serene as he signed his name to the documents.

When it was all over and the culprits committed to the cells, Hajime sat calmly at the magistrate's desk, seemingly lost in thought.

[Daidoji Sae]

As it happened, Busaemi did initially implicate our favorite Hida yoriki as the man in the cloak. But after a serious discussion, the Karo was, indeed, identified.

What happened next was not precisely what Kakita Hajime predicted. The karo did not implicate Lord Ikoma in the course of making his confession. Indeed, he was nearly serene as he signed his name to the documents.

When it was all over and the culprits committed to the cells, Hajime sat calmly at the magistrate's desk, seemingly lost in thought.

It was a dark day when a merchant and a Karo were equally honest.

Sae stands quietly beside Hajime's desk, her On carefully flat but eyes very slightly downcast as if disappointed in the whole affair.

After a few minutes she ventures "He was a loyal man to the end, a lord could ask for no better servant."
Left unsaid was that the servant could maybe ask for a better lord.

[Kakita Hajime]

Hajime grinned. "There's an assumption in what you say that we cannot afford to make openly. But, in case you and I are correct, rest assured that the villa will be watched more closely until the end of court. There is much a Daimyo can do to make mischief in his own castle, but my staff has some experience in tracking movements. As does Lady Seppun's."

"To be honest, I had the vaguest inkling that we would find an Imperial hand in this, at the end. But one makes the cases one has, and I think in this instance we came away with it mostly right."

[Daidoji Sae]

Hajime grinned. "There's an assumption in what you say that we cannot afford to make openly. But, in case you and I are correct, rest assured that the villa will be watched more closely until the end of court. There is much a Daimyo can do to make mischief in his own castle, but my staff has some experience in tracking movements. As does Lady Seppun's."

"To be honest, I had the vaguest inkling that we would find an Imperial hand in this, at the end. But one makes the cases one has, and I think in this instance we came away with it mostly right."

Sae nods slightly.
"It would be foolish indeed for the ultimate perpetrator to attempt to strike again. I just wish that foolish thoughts had merely given way to foolish thoughts, not foolish deeds. No men need to have died for all of this."

Glancing over at Hajime.
"Still, it was an honour to serve in this small capacity. I pray the matter of succession is put to rest sooner rather than later. It is driving good men to murder."

[Kakita Hajime]

"Hai, but I must confess that I have a bad feeling about all this. I pray that the factions will not need to become exhausted to settle the matter, but I suspect that Lady Keihime will not give up easily."

[Daidoji Sae]

"Hai, but I must confess that I have a bad feeling about all this. I pray that the factions will not need to become exhausted to settle the matter, but I suspect that Lady Keihime will not give up easily."

"Then I hope that she can be shown wisdom and grace through whatever form that may take."

The last thing the empire needed was some bitter wind disputing matters and causing clans to declare for this and that.

"Is there anything I can further assist my lord with this evening?"

[Kakita Hajime]

"No, I do not believe so. Thank you for your efforts today, Daidoji-san."

[Daidoji Sae]

"No, I do not believe so. Thank you for your efforts today, Daidoji-san."

"It was an honour, Kakita-sama."

Sae bows respectfully and then retrieves. After the metaphorical and literal dirt of the day a soak sounded like just the thing...

((Thank you for the scene ))