Clad in a simple but vibrant scarlet kimono, Isawa Shingo reported to his clan champion at the hour of the Dragon, as he had been summoned. He felt a tug of nervousness - he knew he had not attended Lady Shiba as he ought to amid the surprises of this historic court. His nerves had troubled him all morning, keeping him from casting his Kawaru coins as he would prefer at the start of such important days. With a faint sigh and a shake of his head, he tapped at the paper divider around Higashime's section of the delegation house. At least her direction will help keep me on track, he thought. Just have to look on the bright side.

"Shiba Higashime-sama?" He called quietly.

"Enter," she says, almost absently. When you do, you see her in her customary position on her dais, towling her head after her morning exercise.

"Isawa Shingo. At last, you show us your face. Have you been well?"

After kneeling and bowing his head to the floor, the shugenja straightens and responds humbly.

"Hai, Shiba Higashime-sama," Shingo says. "I've been as well as the circumstances of the empire allow. And you, Shiba-ue? Have you been well, under the circumstances?"

"Of course. I am buoyed by the law. You, however, have been absent from our deliberations. If you have been well, then it only stands to reason that you have neglected your duties for other reasons. You will atone for this."

The shugenja's face falls, slowly and quietly, and it seems to sink his whole body into a bow and then his head pressed to the floor.

"Hai, Shiba-ue," he says, voice husky but clear so his champion will hear him while he remains bowed. "Your wisdom remains unquestioned. I have... Lost focus. I must hew more closely to my duty and be undisturbed by the..." He pauses a moment, trying to find the right word for issues that matter to the empire but are trivial for him beside his own duty. "I will meditate on duty and restore my clear focus, Shiba-ue," he says with sincerity and conviction, but he remains on the floor until she's ready for him to straighten.

"Then I look forward to seeing how you support Shiba Ryusei in addressing our clan's needs. How do you expect to do that?"

"Shiba Ryusei-san is showing exemplary industriousness and fidelity to duty. I will be pleased to take such direction as he offers to support his efforts," the shugenja says in earnest. He had been pleasantly surprised - shocked, even - by all that the Shiba from a rather insignificant house has accomplished so quickly. Perhaps the real shock was that he felt no jealousy, simply inspiration from his clanmate's accomplishments.

"I have also been gathering information on how to influence the noble sumai in favor of one wind or another, and today at Court will seek the source of a rumor undermining Shiba Rumiko-sama's authority."

"Very well. Now, go do it." Higashime's word was final. It brooked no argument.

"Hai, Shiba-ue," he said forcefully, making sure she knew he'd heard her tone. He rose from the floor, bowed deeply in respect, then /exited with an energy that looked like air Kenny were pulling at his garment hems.