And then it was all on fire (Day 5 Late Evening)

[Hiruma Daichi]

Well, it wasn't really on fire, but it could be if they didn't stomp out the embers.

It's an opportunity boy, not a good one but it's there.

Daichi nodded to himself at that, it would be hard to put it to use, but if he could manage it that would be interesting. Settling into the common area Daichi called a servant for some sake and rice crackers. He'd mentioned a meeting to some of his peers and needed to prepare a bit for their arrival.

Table, Sake, Snacks. That should do.

[Yasuki Masaki]

Having kept mostly quiet during the previous meeting due to an unexpected sore throat (that's a good an excuse for RL as any, I figure ), Masaki was there early today, her face somehow still seeming almost serene as she bowed deep to Daichi.

"Hiruma-sama.", was all she said for now.

Quite the contrast to the apparently peaceful exterior, her eyes couldn't quite stop moving, reaching from one part of the room to the other, from Daichi to the ground and the cat, then outside and back.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori would usher herself in in short order as well. She got the sense that this would be less of a meet and greet where she could derail the conversation with a concept of a sport. There was a lot that happened and it would be great to find some solid ground in this tidal wave of uncertainty.

"Good evening, Yasuki-san and Hiruma-sama," she would bow and greet them in quick order.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Yasuki-san, Kuni-san." He greeted both with a smile and waved for them to take a seat. Nyoko for the moment was not present, but then maybe she was just sleeping somewhere or playing in Ryoichi's room since the man wasn't present to protest.

"Thought we could all use a drink and perhaps a chat about today's news." He offered as they sat.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Kuni-san", Masaki would greet with a bow as she arrived as well. "....Some sake might help, I suppose", she adds after a while.

A long silence would follow.

"So..."

More silence. She looked pensive, a couple times it looked as if she would start saying something, but doesn't.

"I'll fetch some cups" is all she manages for now.

[Kuni Shiori]

Admittedly, Shiori did find herself glancing about for Nyoko when she entered. Part of her could only imagine that she was perhaps doing a good job of hiding. She soon switched her attention to Masaki and watched her every word, perhaps hanging on to see if she had something to share first.

"...Thank you, Yasuki-san," she said on the matter as she quietly put away the personal cup she kept on her. She figured that if Masaki wanted to do something productive, she wasn't going to turn down that honour. It can be therapeutic in some way, no matter how small of a gesture.

"I imagine that the next few days will find themselves uncertain in many ways. It seems almost too soon to say much about it," she said with a shake of her head, although she seemed cooly collected about it.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Seems to. Is probably the best way to put it." Daichi replied, a battle didn't stop just because one Woman feel. Even if that woman were the Empress herself. "I wouldn't be surprised if some were trying to make the most out of these circumstances even now."

He sighed and shook his head. "If we stand still, I figure we risk being left behind. As loathsome as it seems we likely need to be making plans for how we all intend to proceed."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori raised a brow and glanced around for a moment to see if there could be anyone else who might have caught those words. While it was very likely and entirely true, she imagined that to say that anyone would take advantage of an Empress's death was grounds for a duel at the very least. "Well, to say the least, I'm sure that puts the Winds in a precarious situation if no heir has been chosen as of yet. The strangest of all would be the one who isn't even in attendance, the supposed ronin? I wonder where this also puts those who are currently in office, too."

"I would think all that matters, or at least is most concrete, would be the ability to get through to the next season. How are we doing with trade? More to the point, who haven't we asked yet? I could most certainly lend a hand on that. I suspect that you all have been very thorough but I wanted to check."

[Kaiu Masahiko]

Lord Kaiu opened the door from his office, looking a little grim, but his eyes pop as he sees the crew gathered here.

"Ah! A gathering of the wise, hm? Don't mind if I sit in, do you?" He ambles up and takes a seat, looks around easily. "What's up?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

The Yasuki had kept silent so far, pensively fetching cups and pouring them all some sake. When the Lord Kaiu joins them, she bows low, greeting him with "Kaiu-dono" before she goes to fetch another cup.

When he is also served - assuming he accepts the drink - she looks at Shiori and Daichi for a moment, then the Kaiu again, before finally speaking.

"Speaking of the winds, Kuni-san..." She seemed to search for words for some time. "The Empress leaving behind no will... the words came from the Imperial Herald himself, Lord Miya-dono, of course. Someone I'm certain everyone trusts greatly, for good reason."

She falls silent for a moment, again searching for words.

"Still, it..." her eyes scanned around, almost as if looking for support somewhere. The cat was not there, sadly. When she next speaks, her voice softens considerably.

"It... feels a bit hasty? Maybe...? I wonder... would all Imperial Officers know for certain where to find one so fast, if one existed? Or that it would be here in Kyuden Ikoma for sure?"

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori raised a brow from her encircled eye at Masaki as she took hold of the offered sake cup. "...I would imagine that the word of the Imperial Herald is trustworthy at least on the surface. At the moment, we don't have any reason to suspect foul play. The death of the Empress was expected, although nowhere this soon. There is likely some investigation happening in the background but likely with the Emerald Magistrate's highest authority. To implicate that they might be in need of help would either be considered an insult or only done with very high standing in the courts."

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki nodded at Shiori. "Kuni-san is right, of course. And of course I have any reason to suspect Miya-dono either." A deep breath. "I guess it's the surprise speaking. I imagined it would take longer to go through all steps needed to make it completely certain that there was no will anywhere... but I imagine the Imperial Bureaucracy would be particularly hasty with a matter of this weight."

She shakes her head slightly. "Surprise... and some hope, I guess. If a will did exist somewhere, it would make many things so much easier. Without a direct sign from the Daughter of Heaven, and barring one from the Heavens themselves... who is to decide where the rightful choice lies?![/i]

A deep sigh. "One can't help but wonder what this means for Lord Hida's, and our, hopes of no major war breaking out."

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"Well, Lady Seppun has some hope that she and the Chancellor and the Emerald Champion can resolve the issue. And we all did promise to keep the swords in their sheathes. But Lord Hida and I are not as sure that it will all turn out alright. It's best in these circumstances to be prepared."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Well, Lady Seppun has some hope that she and the Chancellor and the Emerald Champion can resolve the issue. And we all did promise to keep the swords in their sheathes. But Lord Hida and I are not as sure that it will all turn out alright. It's best in these circumstances to be prepared."

The Yasuki nods - slowly, perhaps a bit uncertainly.

"I will pray to the Fortunes that Seppun-dono's hopes are not unfounded." A small, uncertain, almost sad smile. "But if fate will not have it that way... "

One of her hands gestures vaguely towards Masahiko's office. "I had in fact written a letter just earlier today asking you about the Lady Seppun, Kaiu-dono, as I had hopes that the shared interests of her duties and ours would be in our favour. But..."

She falls silent, not quite finding the right words. "Might this one ask if there are specific preparations Kaiu-dono thinks fit to take?", she asks when she finds her voice again.

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"There is no reason for you not to continue to try to work with Lady Seppun. However, she is not the most likely person to be able to address our needs. Ultimately, the decision as to where a Wind will find refuge in the time of disorder to come will be made by the Wind itself. If it does not feel safe at home, perhaps it will fly to the safest place in the Empire. Kyuden Hida."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Can't say I'd find myself feeling very safe right now if I was a Wind either. Not with the rumors floating around about intruders entering the Crane house the other night." Daichi offered, as he took a sip of his sake. "Plus, it might just be too much time down south talking, but the whole thing about no Will just doesn't sit right. Though strolling around that bush isn't going to get us anywhere."

"Given those circumstances I'd want to be pretty much anywhere else then here." He glanced towards the Kaiu. "Would it be stepping on too many Toes to convince at least one of them to journey south with us?"

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"I don't think it impossible. Tatsuya will be the easiest, because he will be isolated and ill-regarded at first. But then, we're no strangers to that ourselves, are we?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki nods acknowledging Masahiko's answer, then again at Daichi's words and Masahiko's suggestion.

"Assuming all goes well during the mission, it is possible Tatsuya-sama will have built some sort of relationship with Shiozaki Ryoichi-san", she says, thoughtful. "Maybe he could be in a good place to start talks with him in that sense - although I suppose we could work together to that end."

She looks outside for a moment. "Other than that... I assume the Imperial Advisor is likely out of the question, and Doji Noriko-sama might be unlikely to leave our neighbour's lands... maybe Otomo Gorobei-sama or Seppun Tomaru-sama?"

She looks at the others as if assessing their opinions, then to Masahiko. "Would Kaiu-dono see fit for us to focus on one of them most?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi nodded along to Masaki's words but kept silent as he waited for the Kaiu's thought on the matter.

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"Tomaru may be a tough nut to crack. Sadako will be watching him closest in spite of her desire to remain neutral. But maybe you can use that. Worth a try, anyway. I do think Gorobei and Tatsuya to be the most malleable of the five."