[D10, LA, Closed] The Law of the Sea

[Gusai Rioshida]

The Back Bar of the Old Man's Stump was oddly empty this afternoon. Perhaps the no-necked toughs in Mantis green at the rear entrance had something to do with it.

Inside, the Lord of the Mantis sat at table, his public weaponry laying on his right (not that it was much guarantee of safety, with him). He had a paring knife in his hand and was carving up a strange piece of bright yellow fruit.

[Kasuga Izumi]

Rioshida was just about to place wedges of this fruit on the rims of the tray of drinks his lieutenant brought to the table when she walked in. Formal, stiff, clad all in black with a severe, high collar, Kasuga Izumi seemed to carry winter's chill with her into the stale air of the back bar.

"Gusai-san, thank you for your cordial invitation," she said coolly, "I must admit I have been looking forward to our meeting during this court. It will be a refreshing change from the salvos our captains have become accustomed to exchange."

[Gusai Rioshida]

Rioshida gave an affirmative grunt, then slid a drink across to Izumi.

"A little something from our friends across the sea. They call it a lemon drop. My daughter likes it."

[Kasuga Izumi]

Izumi quirked her brow and takes a sip. "She does? How curious, lemons being so hard to come by this side of the ocean. Your reach has grown, Gusai-san," she added teasingly.

[Gusai Rioshida]

"No thanks to your pet privateers, Kasuga-san." Rioshida did not take kindly to being teased. He leaned slightly forward, his eyes glinting. "But grow it will, to your cost, unless you'd care to make a deal."

[Kasuga Izumi]

Izumi smirked. "A deal? Well, I like deals, Gusai-san. Go on."

[Gusai Rioshida]

Rioshida leaned back. "It's like this. I have 2 units of gold. You have 2 units of lumber. We make an exchange. Simple."

[Kasuga Izumi]

"Simple," Izumi parroted over the rim of her cup.

[Gusai Rioshida]

Rioshida's eyes narrow dangerously. "The back clauses are these. We want access. Merenae and secondary trade routes from their ports. A free hand. You can keep sole access to Thrane. All interdiction, ours, yours, private operations, stops."

[Kasuga Izumi]

Kasuga Izumi took a sip of her lemon drop. She savored it, letting the slightly sour liquid run over her tongue, her eyes nearly closing as she began to swallow.

[Gusai Rioshida]

"Well?" Rioshida's voice rose slightly.

[Kasuga Izumi]

Izumi's eyes opened and she slowly set her drink down while maintaining eye contact with the Lord of the Mantis.

"I will take your gold, Mantis, but I will die before I trade away even one scintilla of the prerogatives of the Tortoise clan. And in a secret clause, no less." She chuckled. "Here is my secret clause: continue to trade with Merenae and your ships will be sunk, your crews impressed, your samurai given to Suitengu. In this, we do the work of the Hantei. That it makes you frustrated and angry for your daughter to lose the drink from her lips is just too bad."

She rose, stepping away from the table. "It is a pity that you and your people must always overreach, but do not say you were not warned. Cross the sea and die."

She nodded to her yojimbo as she turned on her heel and made her /exit. The big man waited one moment to meet Rioshida's eyes before following suit.

[Gusai Rioshida]

Rioshida watched her leave, then rose.

He strode out the rear entrance, his lieutenant following along, trying to stay out of the tense lord's eyeline. They did not stop until they reached the Mantis kobune on the river, had vaulted the side, and strode into the captain's cabin.

"Sir?" the lieutenant asked at long last.


"That settles it, Doi-san. Get a letter to my boy. It's option C."

"C, sir?"

"Merenae is too expensive. We sail south."

/scene.