You can't outfox a fox. (Day 3 Late afternoon)

[Hiruma Daichi]

Masaki had scheduled this meeting but unfortunately was not able to attend. Thus it was Daichi that stepped forward to take her place.

With a small package in one hand and an umbrella to keep off the rain he approached the house of the minor Clans. Hoping he could find Kitsune Aiko.

Stopping at the door he scratched at it to announce his presence.

[Kitsune Aiko]

A servant quickly leads the gunso into the facility and into a suite where Kitsune Aiko stands.

She bows.

"Hiruma-san," she says, "what all c'n I do y'for?"

One gets the impression that a stalk of grass belongs between her teeth.

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi returned her bow with one of his own.

"Ah, I'm Hiruma-ke no kashin Tetsumura Daichi. A clanmates of Yasuki Masaki, due to unforseen circumstances she was unable to attend the meeting she planned with you today, and I was asked to attend in her stead."

"That is if you don't mind such an arrangement Kitsune-sama."

[Kitsune Aiko]

"'tain't a prob'em," Aiko replies easily enough. "Guess y'oughta sit a spell, then."

She suits word to deed and more or less flops down onto a cushion. "Right nice, these," she says. "Sight more comf'table'n tree roots, an' that's the truth."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"I can agree with that." He replied with a soft chuckle as he took a seat. "Out where I'm stationed the only seats you get beside tree roots are rocks."

Placing the small package between them he pushed it towards her. "This is for you by the way."

[Kitsune Aiko]

"Y'know," Aiko says, "that's sweet an' all, but y'oughtn't've done it. Just gettin' t' have a decent palaver's good 'nough a gift."

Seriously, how is she not chewing on grass right now?

[Hiruma Daichi]

Palaver? Pal over? Well, that was nice of her to say. If it was what she meant. "I was taught to always bring at least a small token when visiting unannounced."

"So it would be my pleasure if you accepted, Kitsune-sama."

[Kitsune Aiko]

"I mean, it's right kind an' all," Aiko replies, stammering through a second polite refusal, "but I don't wanna be takin' away from them as do so much t' keep th' rest of us safe."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"That you recognize how we serve is more than enough, Kitsune-sama." Daichi replied. "Adn you can't take away something that is freely given." He added as he offered the package once again.

On opening it she would find a small assortment of sweets; yokan, and yatsuhachi among them. Nothing much but a polite gift for someone to bring to visit.

[Kitsune Aiko]

"Now, that is just s' thoughtfulla you," Aiko says, then looks at Daichi and smiles a little. "'preciate it greatly.

"Now," she continues, "you was sayin' you're here f'r Yasuki-san, fillin' in f'r her. She tell you what all we were conferrin' upon?"

A gesture to a servant prompts tea service.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"She made mention of a few points before I made my way here. Not least of which is the concerns you shared in court today." Daichi replied happy that she was satisfied with the treat.

"As well as perhaps making some arrangements that benefit both our peoples as well."

[Kitsune Aiko]

"How much Fox hist'ry d'you know, Hiruma-san?" Aiko asks.

Tea is poured, and she sips at hers as she awaits his answer.

He will find it a coarse blend if and when he tries it.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Honestly? My studies on History were not my strongest area of studies." He admitted before picking up his cup and taking a sip.

"Though I know you are the descendants of Shinjo and her Kin."

[Kitsune Aiko]

Aiko nods.

"'s true," she says. "An' when th' Lady up an' left, leavin' us--my ances'rs, I mean--here, there were some in th' Great Clans thought they'd take it on 'emselves t' 'take care' of us. O' course, this meant takin' care t' take from us.

"Now, th' Emp'ror at th' time thought that just weren't right, so orders came down t' do things diff'rent. 's why there's th' prohibition 'gainst Great Clans makin' war on th' Younger ones. An' that's why we're skittish 'bout precedents gettin' set that could make it easy t' get 'round that prohibition.

"I mean, 'magine your Clan an' another Great Clan get angry at one 'nother. An' imagine y'all have a unit in Fox lands; that other Clan'll want t' attack it, or might could. An' that'd mean they're coming inta an' through Fox lands on th' way."

She shakes her head. "Too easy t' get roped inta problems as're bigger'n we are. An' if it happens with one Younger Clan, it's too easy t' have it happen with any of 'em, or all of 'em."

She shrugs.

"How's your tea?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi nodded in understanding. "That is certainly a concern, and one I will pass along to my superiors. I do want to assure you it's not our intention to overstay our welcome in boar lands though. Or create any sort of permanent post there. The Boar have an issue there they are having trouble dealing with on their own and asked for our assistance. With luck we shouldn't be there more than one or two seasons."

"In the meantime, we do plan to try and keep ourselves out of any entanglements that could have the other Great Clans looking in our direction. After all, our duty is defending the border to the south, not arguing with those of other clans."

He took a sip of his tea. "Quite a bit better than what I brew." The Crab admitted. "But I can't say I am the best judge either. Luxuries aren't anything I'm well accustomed to, as where my duty takes me, they are few and far between."

[Kitsune Aiko]

"I'll take your word on it," Aiko says, nodding.

"Now," she continues, "what all'd Yasuki-san say 'bout what she an' I'd talked about?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

He offered the older woman a deep bow in thanks at her word.

"Well, she mentioned you might have access to a few things my clan have need of for the coming year. Things like dyes to please our courtiers, and paper for the filing of reports. Our duty to the south is also one that makes one hunger, and rice would do well to fill a man's belly. She made no mention of that though."

He picked up his teacup again and took a sip. "She made no mention of the ways in which the Crab could aid the Fox though. Though I can say we have an abundance of some resources and some services we might be able to provide through the Kaiu."

[Kitsune Aiko]

Aiko nods.

"That's right," she says. "We've got [2 Dyes], [5 Paper], and [2 Rice] from this year's harvests." Another nod. "Been a good year.

"An' we could use some things from th' Crab, if'n you have 'em. Could use [2 Arms], [3 Iron], [3 Stone], and [1 Tea]. Might could be some other things as could help, too, if'n y'ain't got all that floatin' free."

[Hiruma Daichi]

Well, that was a bit of good news. He really hadn't expected the Fox to have any excess rice, and it was a lucky thing that they did. 'We do have all of those things in various quantities." Daichi replied thoughtfully. "As well as sake if that's of any interest to the Fox. I also mentioned services we might be able to provide and with your talk of your clans past and the aggression of the Great Clans, I don't know if a Fortification designed by the Kaiu Would ease any such worries though or just increase them"

He pursed his lips. "1 dye, 2 Paper, and 2 Rice would fill our needs out of what you named. I guess its just a matter of finding what we have that would match it."

[Kitsune Aiko]

"Nothin' on the arms, iron, stone, or tea, then?" Aiko says, looking ever so slightly disappointed. "That'd be a shame, truly."