Having been unable to meet with Tomaru the previous evening, Sayomi tried her luck again early in the day. The letter had remained firmly folded, and unread, despite her curiousity. Curiosity would not kill this cat.

Approaching the Imperial apartments, she humble asked to meet with Seppun Tomaru.

She actually catches him walking out, dressed as if to exercise.

"Kitsu-san," he says, sketching a bow, "have you eaten rice today?"

She bows deeply to the Imperial. "Seppun-sama, good morning. I have been blessed by Inari-kami, yes. I pray the same for you?"

Her hands reach for the folded letter kept inside her sash.

Tomaru sees the gesture. So do the Miharu. The latter begin to reach for their weapons, but Tomaru puts a hand out to stop them.

"You'd seem to have something for me, Kitsu-san," he says.

"Yes," she bows her head and holds up the folded paper in a slow gesture. "This was given to me by Otomo Keihime-sama yesterday evening. She wished for me to give it to you, Seppun-sama. I apologise for the delay in having it delivered to you."

"Hm," Tomaru says, and he takes the letter.

He reads the letter.

He closes his eyes for a moment, and his moustache droops.

"Thank you for the delivery, Kitsu-san," he says, a heaviness in his voice. "I cannot imagine this was easy news for you to carry."

"With all due respect, Seppun-sama, I am unaware of the letter's contents," she says, keeping her head bowed even if she had seen the expression change on Tomaru's face. "The letter was meant for you. It would never occur to me to read something not meant for my eyes."

"Forgive me," Tomaru says. "The news is not something I would have wanted to hear. It has affected me, but that does not excuse my presumption."

He bows, exactly as politeness demands.

"I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news for Seppun-sama. I wish I could change it, if it were within my power." Her voiced was sympathetic, perhaps even remorseful to have begun his day with dark tidings. "You need not ask my forgiveness."

"Then we will put that in the past," Tomaru says, and he tucks away the letter.

"And what the Lady Adviser has done, you cannot undo. So we will put that aside, as well."

"Thank you. Seppun-sama is kind and generous," she bows once more, grateful. "May I be of service to you, Seppun-sama? You seem to be on your way out...?"

Tomaru pats his stomach idly.

"I do need to address this," he says, and there is a touch of his crooked grin. "And then I will need to make ready for the day. Duty still makes its demands, after all.

"But perhaps you can help me with something, Kitsu-san," he adds. "Why do you think the Adviser sent you to me, rather than an Otomo or a Miya?"

The Lion can't help but smile a little at Tomaru's light humor, before she become more serious in her expression.

"I believe it was chance, mixed with opportunity. Our paths crossed by chance, and she invited me for tea. She then had the opportunity to ask me to deliver it to you. An opportunity she took because she knows I support yourself as a worthy heir, Seppun-sama, and not her."

Tomaru gives something of a sad smile.

"Your support flatters an old man, Kitsu-san," he says. "But I do not know that I am worthy."

He pauses, considering.

"I can see that the task was meant in part as a rebuke to you for not standing alongside her. It is a commonplace for the seiyaku to do such."

"Is anyone truly worthy? In the end, isn't it only Heaven that can decide that?" she remarks thoughtfully. "She may rebuke me as much as she wants though, but until my lords order me otherwise, my support is with you."

Sayomi offers a supportive smile to the old man. "Do I know that you're the right one? I won't dare claim that, but from what little I know, you and Doji Noriko-sama seem most honorable and have the strongest claims. I... admire Tatsuya-sama, for daring to come here and let his presence be known, and I think he will be a fine servant of the Empire, but I don't know if one who has lived on the waves have the knowledge and capabilities to rule..."

Realising she was talking too much, her face flushes slightly and she bows her head. "Forgive me, I am speaking too frankly."

"Not at all," Tomaru replies. "And even if so, youth can be forgiven."

He looks up, takes a careful breath.

"Youth can be forgiven many things."

She watches him with some concern. "You seem troubled, Seppun-sama."

Tomaru shakes his head.

"It's nothing that you can help with, Kitsu-san," he says. "Though I thank you for your concern."

He takes a deep breath, holds it, releases it. One might almost think it's part of the Seppun training to do such things, so many of them here seem to do it.

"I do thank you for your concern, truly, and your care in getting this message to me," he adds.

"Now, is there something I can help you with?"

Sayomi doesn't speak as Tomaru takes his moment of silence, giving him all the time he needed.

At his question, she thinks before giving a gentle shake of her head. "I couldn't possibly ask anything of you, Seppun-sama. That I've been able to meet with you and speak with you, is more than enough for me."

"Oh, come now, Kitsu-san," Tomaru says. "I'm not that old, that it's such a rarity to talk to the kind of man I am."

There's the hint of crooked grin again.

"Say, rather, that I am fortunate to have been attended to so by this court and one of its darlings."