[D9, MM, Open] The Weight of My Ancestors Made My Blade Slip

[Cearnach]

The interior of the Hundred Scars Dojo is in heavy use this morning, filled with bushi both local and from the delegations who have felt the rust accumulate over the days of mourning as well as those who sense storm clouds on the horizon.

It would seem one of those clouds has descended in the dojo itself. Amid the shouts and the clatter of bokken on bokken, a strange feeling has begun to emanate from the left-rear of the chamber--a palpable sense of anger wafts from two lion bushi. The one, a woman, tall but scarred, wears the six-sided mon of the Kamoshita family of the Ikoma and a blank expression. The other, a man of average size and heavily mustached, the stylized honeybee of the Shimomura Akodo and a face white with fury. The clash of their bokken cuts through the din of the dojo, and already the Ikoma students have begun to edge away from their practice, and one or two of the sensei seem to be paying more attention to them than to their students' kata.

Then, after another mighty clash and withdrawal, the woman raises her left eyebrow. "Your technique is much as I might have expected from a Shimomura, doshi. Is Lord Gorobei so insecure that he cannot bear to number real swordsmen among his followers?"

The Shimomura snarls and flings aside his bokken. "Give me a real sword and I will show you, Kamoshita!"

A hush falls over the dojo as Kamoshita Kinuyo bows her head in acknowledgment. "So passionate. But it is right that you should have it to defend your pretender." She gestures toward the door of the dojo, not acknowledging the sea of Lion students that parts to allow her to indicate it. "Shall we? I do hope that you will be a better match than your sister."

Shimomura Shigehiko's only response to that is a scowl as he thrusts his bokken into a servant's hand and stalks through the door. In moments, the two are facing each other in the broad light of the dojo's forecourt, swords in hand, while students spill out of the dojo to watch--at last--a real fight.

[Doji Hikaru]

"Ara ara, what a lively display?" Hikaru has been working on his forms when the fight breaks out. He tries to find a sympathetic ear "I assume there is some story behind this?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

Honoka had only been arriving as the action started to spill outside. She noticed one of her cousins though and made her way closer. Eyes narrowed. This wasn't a good thing to see.

[Doji Hikaru]

Honoka had only been arriving as the action started to spill outside. She noticed one of her cousins though and made her way closer. Eyes narrowed. This wasn't a good thing to see.

"Ho...Ikoma-san" HIkaru corrects himself. "Do you have any idea what this is all about?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Hai I suspect so" Honoka said quietly, bowing to Hikaru "a private Lion matter that shouldn't have spilled out here."

[Doji Hikaru]

"Is...someone going to stop them? It isn't really my place but..." Hikaru feels his hand tighten. "Shall we step in if it gets out of hand?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

There was a small shake of the head.

"Stay here a moment and keep an eye on the children. I'm either going to deal with this issue or make it worse" she said quietly, before standing up a bit more straight and moving in the direction of the two samurai who were squaring each other up.

"Mina-sama what are you doing?" she said as she got close, bowing quickly

[Cearnach]

Kinuyo does not take her eye of Shigehiko.

"Shimomura-san wishes to duel for...well, I am not entirely certain of the reason. It couldn't be because I called Lord Gorobei insecure. Everyone knows that to be true."

Shigehiko's ears began to steam with anger.

"So it must be because I suggested that he was an inferior swordsman, which, indeed, he is. Much like every last member of his useless house."

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Do mina-sama truly think this is the time and place for this kind of thing?" Honoka crossed her arms "in the middle of the Winter court season, with so many delegates around from different clans? I understand wishing to deal with...issues happening but one should consider the environment. What if instead of me it was Akodo-dono that had come across this?"

[Cearnach]

Kinuyo shrugged. "I hardly think she would approve, but I am not about to deny Shimomura-san the justice he longs for."
[Perception/Investigation tn 17 to detect that she is withholding something.]

For his part, Shimomura Shigehiko looks a little confused, somewhere between ashamed and just plain angry, he squints a little at Honoka, as though trying to determine what particular scheme the Kamoshitas happen to be running this time.

[Doji Hikaru]

Something immediately seems off, a feeling at the back of Hikaru's mind. Yes, it was possible that one of the kids was being a brat but these seemed quite pointed, aimed at drawing a response.

He settles behind Shinomura, hoping the extra eyes keep him steady

"Sun is in shadow
Misty breeze hits bamboo leaves
Music released"

_______
D9 Mm - investigation/Perception TN 17 - figure out the plot - VP. Spent | 4k3 ⇒ 17 (TN: 17)
Pass

Spirits of sakkaku be praised

[Cearnach]

"What?" Shimomura Shigehiko says through his rampant facial hair. "What does...what are you talking about?"

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru drops his voice.

"You're being baited. I don't know why yet, but I wager that she is using the insults she thinks is most effective to get you to get you to her chosen ground. What would Akodo have said about chasing a foe to where they want to be?"

[Cearnach]

He frowns. "That's...how can I stand down now? I have...it's...damn it! Damn their perfidy!"

He levels a glare at Kinuyo. "You are a scoundrel, Kamoshita. And a bounder. But I will register my challenge against you with the Emerald Office. Prepare yourself."

He bowed once to Honoka and once to Hikaru, turned on his heel, and left.

/exit.

[Cearnach]

*tsk* Kinuyo said. "Hard work, now."

[Doji Hikaru]

He frowns. "That's...how can I stand down now? I have...it's...damn it! Damn their perfidy!"

He levels a glare at Kinuyo. "You are a scoundrel, Kamoshita. And a bounder. But I will register my challenge against you with the Emerald Office. Prepare yourself."

He bowed once to Honoka and once to Hikaru, turned on his heel, and left.

/exit.

"Will you be needing a second then?" Hikaru inquires

[Ikoma Honoka]

Honoka bit back her annoyance by striding closer to Kinuyo, lowering her voice slightly as she spoke.

"And this is how you want things to go, cousin?" she narrowed her eyes "be better. This would have made both of our houses look bad and I'm busy trying to make things better for the Lion and the House. Don't make my life harder."

[Cearnach]

"The house wants the Shimomura to understand that coming after us will be expensive. You've got plans? Lovely. I wish you well. You got a problem with our plans? Talk to Uncle Hozumi."

[Ikoma Honoka]

There was a small narrowing of her eyes.

"Then consider where you are when you try your plans, unless you want Akodo-dono taking a bigger interest in the Kamoshita. Uncle won't protect you if Lady Akodo comes calling" Honoka took a step back, a grin on her face "good to see you as always cousin."

[Cearnach]

"Likewise I am sure." Her smirk couldn't really be construed as a grin. Closer to a sneer.