[D3LA] A Delicate Touch (expecting)

[Daidoji Ryu]

Armed with a letter of introduction, Ryu approached Scorpion House. Perhaps he might fit in there, with his unobtrusive clothing. No mask, but Ryu's face tended towards the mask-like at times.

He'd sent word requesting a meeting ahead as well, via a brief letter. He suspected that the Bayushi Champion probably was even less fond of being surprised than he was.

[Cearnach]

Ryu encounters a surprising number of the delegates of the Scorpion delegation as he is led through Scorpion House to the office of the Champion. Each gives him the old eyeball, considering, calculating what he may have in store for them.

The office itself is surprisingly cramped and untidy. There are scrolls and files in great heaps on each of the tables and covering every inch of desk space. Kaguya herself is standing in front of her desk. Behind it, and to her left, stands the handsome and smirking Unabara Asakaze.

"Daidoji-san," Asakaze begins while Kaguya stares silently, "welcome to Scorpion House. You stand in the presence of Bayushi Kaguya, Champion of the Scorpion. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu kept his expression as blank and closed as possible as he went through the house, although his grey eyes did shift about, noting details.

"Unabara-sama. Bayushi-sama. Thank you for the welcome." Ryu bowed, crisp and precise, but respectful. His expression remained solemn as he glanced about. Well. If someone wanted to get a bit of paper with Kaguya's signature on it, they wouldn't have any trouble.

He took a breath. "I come on business, and an unfortunate sort, that concerns both of our clans. We in the Crane suspect that someone may be attempting to turn us against each other. Have you already received news of the intrusion into Crane House last night?"

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Kaguya folds her arms. "We had heard your Champion's cousin speaking of this in court today. Someone in her rooms? Tsk. The Seppun will not be pleased."

Behind her, Unabara Asakaze rests one hand on the desk and leans in, slightly. An ambiguous posture.

[Daidoji Ryu]

"Indeed. I expect many will not be pleased." Ryu said. "There was more. One of the intruders dropped a tiny scrap of paper. Only a tiny bit was readable, but that said '-guya'."

He raised a hand, in case an outburst was coming. "You can see why we wanted to speak to you, of course." A tiny beat. "Our conclusion was that this was someone's attempt to implicate you, Bayushi-sama, in some sort of plot. We thought it best that you be told of this attempt."

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Far from an explosion, time seems to stand still as Ryu's speech comes to a close. Neither Scorpion moves, though you notice Asakaze's eyes slide from you to look at his Champion.

When, at last, Kaguya speaks, her voice is halting, as though she is barely restraining her fury.

"The Scorpion clan...thanks the...Crane clan...for...its...information."

[Cearnach]

Asakaze cuts in. "Is the Crane clan at all aware of who may have done such a dreadful thing?" Only at the end of his sentence do his eyes slide back to Ryu. He has not moved a muscle.

[Daidoji Ryu]

Well. Well well well.

"We think speculation would be a mistake at this early stage." Ryu said blandly. "Which is another reason why we wished to approach your clan."

He pressed his lips together thoughtfully. "Would you be willing to work with us? Perhaps our champions should meet. Bayushi-sama, you may wish to examine the paper to see if it's your own hand. That would suggest different directions for the investigation."

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Kaguya nodded slowly. "Yes...yes, I think such a meeting should be arranged."

Asakaze does not reply at all. Indeed, his eyes seem to glaze over beneath the sheer silk of his mask.

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu bowed. "I shall see it done, then."

He straightened. "We appreciate your willingness to work with us. Is there anything else you would like me to convey back to the Crane?"

[Bayushi Kaguya]

Lady Kaguya paused a moment. "Yes. Tell her that I will cut out the perpetrators' hearts myself. It will give her time to consider whether she wishes to have one of them sent to her."

[Daidoji Ryu]

"I will convey that message." Ryu said, bland as ever.

He bowed. "If there's nothing else, I shall return to Crane house." He hesitated a moment, clearing his throat. "Whoever instigated this, I expect they now know the Crane are alert. They may lay low for a while, rather than risk another attempt."

With that, he would bow again, and leave if dismissed.