ROKUGAN, A LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS PBEM

SCROLL 1 - JOURNEY TO OTOSAN UCHI

Prologue - Falling water

	The time of the Bon Festival is approaching. The festival in which the ancestors are appeased and honored. The festival in which the living remember them and speak to them - seeking their blessed guidance throughout the next year. This year I will not celebrate the Bon Festival with my family. I am sent to Otosan Uchi to attend the celebration there.
	The elegant invitation came directly from Doji Susume. The esteemed sensei, it said, kindly invites you to his house, to partake of his food and company. No doubt my attendance at the Kakita school will naturally surface somewhere in conversation, followed a while later by mention of some... difficulty troubling Doji-sama's orderly life. Such is fate. I pay my respects to mother, to grandfather and set out on the path to the capital.
	The journey is smooth and pleasant. But two day short of my destination, shortly after the sun has set, a monsoon rain makes a sudden appearance. Soon I am wet. My clothes are clinging to my body. Coldness starts to creep under my skin, reaching with its icy hand to my bones. The well tended roads turn into muddy, slippery paths.
	Then I see the warmth of lighted windows somewhere in the distance. I quicken my steps and soon I am in a cozy little village. There is an inn at the entrance of the town. Its windows invite me to enter. I smell the scent of steamed rice. I also hear the muffled sound of voices enjoying the evening. As I step under the veranda on my way to the door, I see two other samurai doing the same.


Chapter 1 - Warm Inn

	There is a short pause, then Juro remembers his manners. The tanned young man removes his wide straw hat and bows to the others, "I am pleased to see I'll be sharing this evening with civilized company... I am Daidoji Juro. Pleased to meet you." He bows again, looking sadly at the muddy hem of his faded blue kimono in the process.
	Bowing back, Doji Kasumi smiles. "My name is Doji Kasumi, pleased to meet you, Daidoji-san." She then bows to the other samurai, presenting herself.
	Juro's calm, dark eyes look to her left, then to her right, apparently searching for something in the rainy gloom. "Doji-san, are you..." He is interrupted by the sound of wet footsteps : someone is approaching.
	Happy to see the warm, dry invite of the inn, a young shugenja rushes up to the veranda. Upon seeing the three samurai he bows and says, "Greetings.  I am Togashi Motsu. I would be honored to have your company this evening, as I have been traveling alone for some time now. Perhaps we should head in...", enthusiastically gesturing towards the entrance to the inn.
	After a frown at the Dragon's lack of restrain, Juro silently walks over to the door, slides it open and gracefully motions them inside.
	The lady Crane glides in, followed by Togashi-san, but the man wearing, despite the inclement weather, nothing more than a single kimono bearing the mon of the Phoenix with a bokken rather than a katana next to the wakizashi in his obi, stops before he reaches the door and bows to the other samurai. "Please, go ahead of me." he says politely as he bows to his peer and motions for the Crane to precede him in the inn.
	Juro nods at the courtesy, "You are most kind.", and goes to enter, hesitates then turns back. "Please forgive me, I didn't catch your name. I do apologize." He bows more deeply than before.
	Suddenly realizing that he had not yet given his name, the young samurai wearing the Phoenix mon bows again. "Apologies for my rudeness, my name is Isawa Gokuu.", he says, still waiting for the other to precede him inside.
	"Nice to meet you.", bows the crane bushi before stepping into the inn's warm embrace.
	As the phoenix bushi follows suit, another large samurai is just getting off his horse. His feet hit the ground, a large splash further dirties his once white kimono. Instead of rushing into the warmth of the inn, he begins to unload packs off his steed, taking time to lighten its load and finding it a spot to graze.
	The ones inside watch him for a while, then decide he isn't going to join them right away. The door is kept open, in anticipation of the tall samurai's arrival. Meanwhile, Juro, like the others, busies himself with other matters : yari and katana are put in the stands, keeping only a wakizashi, and dirty shoes are removed. 
	The arrival of four samurai doesn't go unnoticed however : the innkeeper hurries towards the group and drops to his knees - face down to the floor. He mumbles, "Be greeted in my modest house.". Then points to a fine table in the middle of the room. "Please, give me the honor to sit and eat at this table." All his other guests are also kneeling, but start to leave the inn (walking on their knees).
	Juro nods at the arrangement, "Perhaps a place to change, keeper-san ?". He waves at his own muddied attire.
	"There is just the kitchen honored Samurai.", the keeper stammers.
	The young Crane frowns then bows slightly, "Then we will be borrowing it for a while." He turns to Doji-san and shows the door to the kitchen questioningly.
	Before she can respond though, the samurai outside finally enters the inn, ducking slightly as he steps through the door. As he sees who is in the room, he bows to all who meet his eyes. "Hello, I'm Moto Shoko" A small grin quickly passes over his almost emotionless face. "I'm glad see that I will have some company, for at least one night." A new round of presentations follow.
	That done, everyone uses the room provided to dry off and change. All except the man with the bokken. He doesn't change, nor is he carrying anything that might contain spare clothing for him to change into...

	After entering the kitchen, Juro extracts various things from his obi (a small handful of coins, an obi pouch and his fue <bamboo flute>) before carefully taking a flat wooden box from his pack. Inside is a blue and white kimono which quickly replaces the utilitarian faded-blue kimono he's been wearing. This one is of finest silk and elaborately embroidered. The mon on his left sleeve is particularly lifelike, featuring the Daidoji's Crane with outstretched wings clutching a yari and snake. The crane does seem to have his beak broken in two places though...
	Feeling a lot more presentable, Juro exits back into the main room and lays his pack by the weapon stands.

	Once all samurai are seated, the keeper goes to the now vacant kitchen and returns with his beautiful daughter. Both are caring steaming rice and sashimi and put them on the table. Quickly they leave again to bring tea and a bottle of sake.
	His daughter then serves each guest in turn. Afterwards she takes two steps back and awaits further commands. Her father sits beside the entrance to the kitchen.
	Gokuu motions the keeper over. Indicating the delicious looking spread on their table, he says: "While this truly looks excellent, keeper-san, I'm afraid I cannot compensate you adequately for such efforts. Would you, be so kind as to bring me a simple glass of water?" The keeper bows and goes in search of the desired item.
	Mindful of his manners in such company, Juro starts eating at a leisurely pace, staying with the tea to begin with. "I do hope this weather does not hold, the capital is still some ways off.", he says lightly.
	Doji Kasumi, in a dry kimono of blue and white silk, sips at her tea. "Oh, I'm sure we'll be able to travel tomorrow. At least I hope so."
	The compact little bushi looks pensively in the other Crane's direction, "It IS falling rather hard so it shouldn't last too long... Fortunes willing." He pauses. "I do feel sorry for your companions under such skies, Doji-san. Should we ask the innkeeper to prepare something warm for their arrival ?"
	The man in question comes back to brings water to Gokuu-san. He bows, but you see a startled expression escaping his face when the keeper gives him water in a cup.
	Doji Kasumi smiles as she once more sips her tea. "What the rain lacks in endurance, it makes up for in strength," the small woman said, still smiling. "And my companions are probably warm and dry under my family's roof back home. I felt that they would only get in the way, so I left without them."
	Juro frowns, opens his mouth... then slowly closes it. He takes the time to chew a piece of fish thoroughly before continuing, "I heard a man once said: 'Though my steps are heavy, on this road I am not alone. A bird travels on my shoulder and his songs light my way.'" He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, in voiceless inquiry but Doji-san doesn't answer. The young man nods to himself as if this answered some deep question. "Such is fate.", he remarks as he partakes of some rice. 
	Looking to his left, Juro notices that the Phoenix shugenja just sips his water without eating. "Are you fasting, Isawa-san ?". His voice tinged with mild concern for his table companion, he discreetly looks for signs of some medical problem.
	Gokuu smiles briefly at the question. "Not at all," he replies. "While fasting can certainly prove to be of value in the quest for enlightenment, it surely is not the most appropriate choice while traveling. However, as I have devoted myself to spiritual wealth rather than material wealth, I currently find myself without the means to provide the innkeeper with a just reward for the fruit of his labours. And I believe it would be inappropriate and dishonorable of me to abuse my position by merely taking the food without paying... Rest assured, Daidoji-san, that I am in good health," he concludes, to allay the concern he noted his fellow samurai couldn't completely conceal.
	"May it always remain so." nods the tanned bushi. "...yet you fast nonetheless..." He thoughtfully rolls his chopsticks a few times between callused fingers before saying, "If I may venture an opinion, Isawa-san, perhaps.. perhaps your wealth is greater than you think. Certainly a Food Taker such as I", the corner of his mouth hardens a little on that last bit, "is not qualified to advice you, but, as you said, is not your spirituality a wealth to be shared ? and isn't it proper that those it is spent on feel some sense of gratitude ?"
	Shaking his head slightly and smiling wryly, Gokuu replies: "I am not without rations, and have eaten today, Daidoji-san. As for the sharing of spiritual wealth, I doubt that quotes from the Tao of Shinsei would allow the innkeeper to replenish his supply of rice and sake, which surely is his main concern..." 
	"Surely.", agrees the Crane bushi. He carefully starts to correct his opposite, "Though our thoughts differ slightly on...", he lets the sentence fade. "...But that is, perhaps, a discussion for another time." Juro gives a subtle bow to Isawa-san, then concentrates once more on his meal.
	The shugenja pauses thoughtfully for a moment, then adds: "And there is no need for you to be apologetic for taking food, or to refer to yourself as a mere Food Taker. Food, after all, is a necessity of life, and partaking of it in no way reflects poorly upon you."
	Juro's dark eyes widen slightly in surprise, then blink in quick succession but he remains silent, lips somewhat more tight than before.
	Taking no apparent notice, Gokuu continues after a short pause: "But enough of me and my philosophical ramblings, which might be overly boring for the rest of our heretofore silent companions. What brings us all together here on this," briefly glancing to the window, "rather miserable evening? I myself have been honoured with the task of being one of my Clan's representative at the upcoming Bon Festival in the Capital.", he concludes, casting a friendly and inquiring glance at each of the others at the table.
	"Oh, no, Isawa-san," Doji Kasumi smiles, "you did most surely not bore us in the least, and I for one admire you for not taking advantage of your social station, as I fear many would." (Juro's fish seems to slither out of his chopsticks. He calmly pick it back up and continues eating.) Sipping her tea again, she continues. "And I fear that my reasons to join the Bon festival in the capitol is somewhat boring, since I was not to go, but rather my brother, who only a week ago fell off his horse and injured his leg. So my honored father decided that his only daughter, myself, was to represent his family. So on one side, I should be sorry for my brothers accident, on the other hand, if he had not fell of his horse, I would not have met so many interesting people today. And had it not been for the rain, we might not have met at all," Kasumi concludes and sips her tea once more, letting the warm brew warm her.
	After she finishes, there is a sound outside. Then a huge man enters the inn- a dark silhouette before a darker background. He is wet. His long black hair is clinging to his head, leaving a track of water drops as he steps into the warm. You see by his mon that he is a member of the Yasuki family, a merchant is your guess. 
	As he sees you he bows deeply. Daidoji bows back, but decidedly less deep then his counterpart, almost a nod. He keeps discreetly casting sidelong glances in the Yasuki's direction... and their gear. The innkeeper steps towards the merchant and starts to barter for rice vinegar. 
	Doji glances at the bartering Yasuki, and bows ever so slightly, just to be polite. Securing her mon-decorated fan in one hand, she returns her attention to the more pleasant company, smiling warmly. Gokuu also glances briefly at the merchant and politely returns the bow, then brings his attention back to his companions.
	Taking up the conversation at the point it was interrupted, Juro comments on Doji-san's story. "Fate can seem fickle... but the will of the Fortunes rarely is. I believe events happen as part of ones fate." As neither the Dragon nor the Unicorn seem willing to share, Juro finally resigns himself to HIS fate. "I too will be traveling to Otosan Uchi, as I mentioned. Though my reasons are not as glorious as either Isawa-san's or Doji-san's... I am merely accepting the gracious hospitality of one of Doji-san's relative during the upcoming festivities." After due consideration, the compact bushi voices a polite suggestion, "Perhaps birds flying south should fly as one... for a time."
	"What an excellent idea, Daidoji-san. The road is always shorter when traveling in good company." remarks Kasumi.
	"Indeed," replies Gokuu, "good company makes pleasant journeys."
      Juro seems pleased if somewhat surprised (Mostly in the case of the other Crane). "It is settled then... Unless one of our other companions...?" His dark eyes look interrogatively towards the tall Unicorn and the green-eyed Dragon.
	Both answer in the negative, returning to their hushed discussion... Something to do with horses and travel roads.

	"On days like this," Juro lightly motions to the roof where the rain still pounds relentlessly, "the wise say the world favors refinement over physical pursuits." He carefully lays his chopsticks down over his empty bowl, pushes it away and takes the bottle of sake. "Would any care to test this in a contest of poetry ?" The young Crane serves anyone that wants serving and then offers his own cup to be filled.
	Gokuu smiles at this suggestion. "So long as we don't take this contest too seriously, honourable companion. After all, a rustic Phoenix such as myself is surely going to be no match for two refined Cranes", he says, then, looking at Kasumi, continues "assuming you will be participating, of course, Doji-san."
	Politely refusing the offered sake, Gokuu fills Juro's cup. Then, glancing at the roof, he adds: "Perhaps the rain would a fitting topic with which to begin, and as the initiator of the contest, the honour of the first verse should be yours, Daidoji-san."
	"It would be my pleasure.", answers Juro with a slight frown. "Though some believe calling a thing makes it come or, in our case, stay all the longer." Small smile. "So a safer topic might be in order... Perhaps the Sea or the warmth of a fire ?" He turns to look at Doji-san.
	"Not that I don't like the rain, for even the rain has it's good points, I'm sure the farmers would agree, but I fear that you might have a good point, Daidoji-san," Kasumi says, throwing glances at the merchant. "But I fear that I might not be a very good poet, since my education was mostly spent on reading dusty old scrolls of little poetic value, rather than the fine art of the haiku."
	Juro's eyes shine a bit brighter though his face remains nearly impassive. "'They walked to battle with head bowed and so Shin'Jion laughed while he feasted on their bones.'... such is fate." (Gokuu briefly raises an eyebrow, letting his ignorance of the reference slip out for an instant, but says nothing.) He looks into his cup pensively. "Certainly a sensible person would find the role of Oni distasteful, but if fate as decreed it... One can only shoulder the burden." The blue clad samurai drinks, using his cup to hide the persistent tendency of his lips to curl into a smile. Then, with a breath, he begins :

J		birds glide
		above colored waves
		scent of blood

	Bowing his head in recognition, Gokuu gathers his thought then continues with

G		wind blown drops gently falling
		stinging taste of salt

	Meanwhile the keeper seems to have finished the bartering with the crab merchant. His two servants start to carry in barrels, small and medium sized and boxes- some of them are really large.
	Doji Kasumi glances towards the merchant, slightly shocked at the sight of a samurai merchant. Returning her attention to her companions at the table, she sips her sake. "As I feared, you both far outshine me in the art of poetry."
	Juro also takes a sip, then nods encouragement to his Crane counterpart. "Courage is a samurai's duty.", he calmly smiles.
	"I wouldn't dare qualify my meager contribution as 'art'", says Gokuu, "and since we're merely trying to pass a pleasant evening, I'm sure your contribution will be at least equal to ours.", he concludes, not really bothering to pay attention to the transaction going on behind him.
	"You honour me with your high thoughts of my abilities, but alas," Kasumi smiles behind her lovely little fan decorated with her family's mon, "I feel that my abilities lie in a different field altogether, and therefore must beg your forgiveness."
	The young bushi slowly nods in acknowledgment. Though he doesn't actually say it, the words 'Such is fate.' seem to hover in the air around him. "My apologies for the misunderstanding." He bows low to Kasumi, straightens and says :
	
J		water flows
		as the damsel dies.
		sound of rain

	"I trust rain that is not rain will not attract Jikoju's notice." He sprinkles imaginary droplets above his sake then drinks.
	Bowing to Kasumi, Gokuu says: "Well, we all must follow our own path, so I can only respect your decision." Then, shrugging at Juro's last comment, he bows his head in concentration, then continues:

G		drops, infinite, echo
		silence of parting clouds

	A sideways look at the Phoenix Shugenja "Certainly my knowledge of Jikoju's habits may be deficient... Would he find theater offensive, Isawa-san ?"
	"Saa...", answers Gokuu, "I'm afraid that my humble self is not the person to ask. While I have often pondered the mysteries of the Tao, the same is not true for those of the fortunes." Taking a sip of water, he concludes: "It would be best to ask a shugenja such questions, rather than my humble self."
	Juro's eyes bat in surprise, then look to Gokuu's waist where his bokken once rested before returning. He whispers, "The world is full of wonder..." The tanned young man carefully takes a sip of sake, realizes his cup is empty and lays it back down. "Please do not be offended, but I thought you were such a person. Certainly I have heard tales of great fighters who, in their later years, fought with wooden swords but to actually achieve such skill in so few years..."
	Gokuu laughs: "I'm not offended. Given that almost all of my family follows the path of the shugenja, I can understand your assumption." Then, smiling broadly, he continues: "But I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you in your wonder. I do not fight with a wooden sword because I'm greatly skilled, but because even as a bushi, I feel it unnecessary to take life when I can defend myself without killing my opponent. To that purpose, I must carry a wooden sword so as not to tarnish the memories of my peace-loving ancestors."
	Taking another sip of water, he concludes: "Trained in the ways of the warrior though I may be, I still do not believe that violence is the answer to problems. It is, at times, an ugly necessity, but I do not wish to promote it to anything beyond that."
	Then, almost as an afterthought: "Oh, and I believe the next verse is yours...", he adds politely.
	"Quite right... though we seem to disagree on the skill of opposing wood to steel." small smile. "Certainly courage plays a part. Would you honor me with the name of your teacher ?"
	"It's been called misplaced idealism more often than courage", replies Gokuu. "My teacher's name is Shiba Yoriashi."
	"Surely a man of peace." He raises a silent toast.
	Nodding quietly, Gokuu raises his own water cup in response, though his eyes seem, for a moment, distanced and unfocused. 
	With a guilty look in Kasumi's direction (then a quick one at their gear), Juro continues :

J		small house
		built by father's father.
		knees on wet ground

	"You surprised me with that last link, Isawa-san.", states Juro before taking the time to straighten his kimono. "Would it be indiscreet to ask how you came to it ?" 
	"As did you with this one. Indiscreet, no. I merely spoke the first verse that came to mind. Whence the association, precisely, I could not say, although I did warn you before we began that I was a rather poor poet, did I not?", answers Gokuu. Then: "But why do you ask? Was the verse inappropriate?", he queries.
	"Not at all." The wiry man rests his hands in his lap, his gaze growing distant. "I saw myself in a narrow cave, water dripping nearby as I gazed up at the sky through a small chimney..." His dark eyes focus once more on Gokuu and he nods, "Well crafted... but bearing with it the mystery of its birth from my own link." 
	 Small smile. "Of course that may be the answer, the images are clear but my tongue is not as keenly trained as it should be... 'Seeking perfection in one thing requires seeking it in all things'"
	Gokuu's eyes momentarily widen slightly at Juro's explanation. "I can see why the verse surprised you, then. An interesting coincidence."
	Juro blinks a few time, frowning slightly. 
	Gokuu looks on the verge of saying something, then thinks better of it. After a short pause, he gives the next verse:

G		ancestors given thanks
		the children will not starve

	Frowning, Gokuu shrugs apologetically: "Hm. Having just heard myself, I think I'll be forced to concede, Daidoji-san."
	The merchant approaches. In his hands is one of the longer boxes and behind him one of his young servants carries another one. "Sumimasen", he starts bowing deeply. "I have no intention to interrupt you, honored Samurais, but I thought you might be interested in this item." With that he opens the box. Inside is a blue colored cloth. Well woven, and the blue is that deep- You have never seen such a color. Then he opens the box in the boy's hand. Inside is a similar cloth, but this one has a red color. As he moves to open the other box, you see the light wandering over the blue cloth and it reminds you of waves dancing in the moonlight.
	Kasumi returns her attention to the group after eyeing the fabric that the peddler has been trying to sell, apparently not interested.
	Juro's less than friendly look at the merchant softens somewhat as he contemplates the beauty of the fabric. Still, his hand waves negatively and he continues his discussion with the Phoenix. "Thank you for a most enjoyable game." He bows. "I hope you won't think me too forward in asking for your enduring good wishes as my prize ?"
	Gokuu glances curiously at the merchant's interruption, then at the cloths he displays, showing no reaction. Bowing to Juro, he smiles: "It is I who thank you, and your request is eminently reasonable, though I'm afraid there is little benefit to be had from my humble good wishes." Then, turning the merchant, he says dismissively: "Such fabrics aren't for me."
	Though he seems to want to deny it, Juro's eyes keep returning to the blue fabric. Finally overcoming some sort of barrier, he hesitantly queries, "Such a piece must have... a history ?"
	Gokuu can't resist smiling at Juro's reaction, but otherwise says nothing, merely observing the merchant's response to Juro's question, and casting a glance at Kasumi to see how she is viewing this.
	The merchant bows towards Daidoji-san. "It does not have a history. It is just a fine work. Do you want to buy some of the blue one?" With this words he pull lightly on the fabric and then he let it run through his fingers. "Feel how smooth it is."
	A frown on his face, Juro touches the presented cloth in a strangely hesitant gesture. "I feel material things share some things of our own earthly nature." He looks up at the Yasuki, openly looking into his eyes. "I'm sure you'll agree a potter making his first pot should not expect much for his services even had he been trained by a master."
	The Yasuki merchant bows, "If the honored samurais prefer, we can continue tomorrow." He looks straight in the face of Daidoji-san. The rhythm of raindrops falling on the house slows down.
	Juro calmly stares back. "Not at all. Though I'm sure a man such as you has other businesses to attend to... so we will discuss it now (if you so wish)."
	The Crane Shugenja watches what could be an exercise in subtle warfare of words.  Not wanting to butt in, but being unable not to admire the depth of color... "I must admit," Kasumi says, "I rarely have seen a blue so deeply hued."
	"Yes, isn't it", says the merchant and you see that he is enraptured by his own stuff. "Do you want to buy some, honored Samurai?", he says relative directly to Daidoji-san.
	Juro considers, fingers intertwined, then says, "In truth, the thought of cost strongly moderates my desire..." He looks at the merchant without facing him, the unasked question resting in his gaze.
	"Oh", says the merchant and a flash of disappointment crosses his face, but soon he retains his little smile, "But of course we can talk about the prize."
	His eyes narrowed, the wiry young man nods his assent. Now that he looks closely at the man, he does seem rather young.
	"I would propose that you tell me, what you think that this cloth is worth ?." says the merchant, and there is something sneaky in his eyes.
	"It is not proper for samurai to haggle like peasant wives... Its worth to me is 15 Zeni per armlength." His lip curls with the slightest hint of a smile. "Is this a fair offer ?"
	The merchant looks at Juro unbelieving, opens his mouth; swallows, opens his mouth again, "You offer me 15 zeni for such a excellent work? Is there anybody on this table, who can appreciate this cloth?" He looks at the others.
	Gokuu merely shrugs when the merchant's eyes come to him, clearly indicating that the cloth is of no interest to him, and the question of price even less so.
	The merchant looks around as if waiting for another offer, then he sighs "Well, I am able to sell you one armlength for 25 zeni."
	Juro considers, head bent. "My interest has waned... but, as the rain is lifting and sake is plentiful, I will offer 1 Koku for three armlengths, no more."
	The merchant sighs and considers Juro-sans offer. Then he sighs again as if coming to a difficult conclusion. "For one koku I can give 2 and a half armlenght. Anything else means ruin to me."
	The young Crane agrees with a half-bow. He carefully extracts 5 Bu from the folds of his obi and lays them down in front of the merchant, waiting.
	The merchant nods and takes out a strange cutting tool: two cutting knifes connected in their middle. With it he cuts the two and a half armlength and gives it to Juro-san with a deep, respectful bow. Then he looks around the table if someone else wants some cloth. Negative nods greet him. 
	With a deep bow the inn-keeper comes near and kneels before you all. "It is late now. Is there something else which I can serve you, or should I prepare the sleeping mats for you- Honored samurai-samas ?
	"Please do," Doji Kasumi replies. "If you do not mind, I am tired from the long journey." She says, turning to the other samurai, ignoring the merchant.
	Gokuu stands and acknowledges his companions' turning in with a bow to each of them. "I, too, am feeling the fatigue of a long journey. I will see you all in the morning."
	"The journey HAS been long... But tomorrow's will be shorter in your company.", smiles Juro as he nods to both Kasumi and Gokuu.
	The innkeeper starts to bring the mats. Apologizing he tells you that he has no extra rooms for his guest- he is just a little rural innkeeper. 
	The merchant and his servants are going to their wares and prepare to sleep there.

	Upon reaching the mat reserved for him, Gokuu kneels in seiza and prepares to meditate a while on the day's events before lying down to sleep.

	Daidoji Juro removes his good kimono and, after removing any trace of dust, carefully folds it into its wooden box. The piece of fabric is softly placed on top. The lid closes and the box is put back in his bag. 
	The young Crane reclines on his back, his wakisashi beside him, and relaxes into peaceful sleep... Fortunes willing.

	The Unicorn and the Dragon do not prepare for sleep. They have decided to leave the inn and walk in the night. All attempts by the innkeeper to keep them in the inn has failed. Mention that the night is dangerous causes the large unicorn to laugh loudly as he goes out. With a whisper, the door slides shut behind them.
	Silence. The rain has stopped. Everyone is asleep.


Chapter 2 - Nightmare

	Suddenly you are pulled out of your dreams by a high pitched scream, followed by an outcry of grief. You all (the Fortunes are on your side) hear the flap-flap of wings in the darkness. It is dark, you cannot see anything.
	Juro sighs, he'd been wondering when his luck would catch up to him. He calmly gets up, right hand grabbing his wakizashi. He stashes it into his obi, then walks over and slides the window open, letting little beams of moonlight start to fight against the darkness... Nothing. 

	Doji Kasumi valiantly grabs her scrolls, kimono and obi, and starts to get her clothes on while at the same time trying to locate the sound of the scream. Rising from his futon, Gokuu listens carefully as well.
	The sound of wings inside the inn has stopped, was it just the rest of dreams before awaking fully ? From out of the kitchen, comes the sound of weeping.
	Gokuu starts to feel along the wall, making his way there as quickly as he can in the semi-darkness.

	The Crane bushi trots over to the sword rack and unsheathes Koroai, not bothering with the sheath. "I'll take the outside." Sword drawn, he opens the door, dark eyes scanning the deeper darkness of land and sky (Images of bats still twirl in his mind's eye). 
	He finds no-one, no sound which could alarm him. He leaves the door open to give further illumination to the others and goes to rejoin them.

	Gokuu notes with some surprise that Kasumi has arrived before him and is sliding the kitchen door open. As he approaches, he softly whispers "It's Gokuu." lest she mistake him for an enemy, then peers over her shoulder.
	A sad scene spreads before them. The innkeeper sits weeping beside the corpse of his beautiful daughter. Dark pools of liquid are near her neck... Blood.
	Kasumi enters the room and addresses the innkeeper. "Keeper-san, what has happened here?"
	The innkeeper looks up, tears running down his cheek. After a few moments, he is able to stammer, "I awoke as I heard her ::sobs:: screaming and then I...I saw that she was..... like that....dead.....my daughter is dead." He starts to cry again, uncontrollable sobs are shaking the body of this man.
	"Fortunes protect us." breathes Juro as he comes up behind the others. His free hand makes a warding sign against evil. After a frozen instant, his jaw clench and the young man tears his gaze away with a shudder, willing himself to concentrate on the matter at hand: murder... Or more precisely, the murderer.
	Acknowledging Juro's arrival with a nod, Gokuu cannot help but shudder at the grisly scene. He takes a step back to give the innkeeper some privacy for a moment, shaking his head sadly at the tragedy. Looking up at Juro, he asks in a low voice: "Did you see anything outside, Daidoji-san?"
	Sad shake of the head. "Night sky and dark earth... much mud." 
	Slowly nodding Gokuu replies: "Mayhaps there will be tracks to be seen in the morning light."
	"Hai, perhaps. Perhaps one should look before then... But let us not put the cart in front of the oxen." he says as he searches in the gloom of the main room... Then there is a flash of light. Juro stands, his front eerily illuminated from below, the badly scratched length of his katana reflecting silver in his hand. "So young..." he murmurs as he brings the lamp into the kitchen. The light reveals no blood splattered on the walls, no sign of an intruder. Strange.
	Kasumi kneels in one corner of the small kitchen and silently begins a prayer for the dead, as a small comfort for the devastated innkeeper and ex-father.
	With a look at Doji-san, Daidoji takes a step in the direction of the sobbing father, then stops as he looks down to his beweaponned hand. He turns to Gokuu, but his mouth closes, thought unvoiced... With a resigned sigh, Juro settles for careful steps around the congealing pool of blood. Once near the girl's head, he crouches down, the flame of the lamp flickering on her form, forever still.

	Meanwhile the merchant and his servants have awaken too. "Someone has to inform the magistrate!" he cries.
	Gokuu turns to look at the man, then nods briefly: "But that will have to wait until morning, when there is enough light to travel by. For the time being, I think it would be best to gather everyone in the common room; no one should be left alone." Taking another look at the scene, Gokuu turns to the merchant and his servants again and asks: "How long have you been awake, merchant-san? Did you hear anything unusual this evening?" A sharp glance at the servants indicates that the question is directed at them as well.
	The Yasuki merchant looks coldly at the Phoenix. "I went to sleep exactly at the same time as you. By the way, who has given you the order to lead this investigation?" The servants look around nervously, feeling the building tension.
	Raising an eyebrow, Gokuu replies: "I am not 'leading' the investigation, Merchant, but I am samurai, as are my two companions, and until the local magistrate can be informed of the situation, it is our duty, as samurai, to take charge in situations such as this." Then, with his strange gaze that seems to hold wisdom beyond his years, Gokuu looks the merchant straight in the eye and calmly continues: "Your duty, on the other hand, Merchant, is merely to answer. You should have no reason to take offense at what is nothing more than a natural question given the circumstances, unless you have something to hide. Besides, I should think that, if for no other reason, concern for your own life and, presumably, for your wares, should make you anxious to offer what little assistance you may." throughout, Gokuu keeps his voice steady, even pleasant, showing no sign of anger at the merchant's lack of respect, although his tone also slightly implies that he shouldn't have to explain the obvious.
	The merchant nods, "I have answered your question by telling you that I went to bed at the same time you did."

	After finishing her small prayer, Kasumi stands and looks around for any signs of struggle... But the girl lies still on her mat. Apparently death came to her quickly, in her sleep. 
	She is distracted from her sad contemplation by the innkeeper, thanking Doji Shugenja-sama with many words for guiding the soul of his daughter. He tries to suppress his tears, lest she be bound to this world by his grief. 
	In the ensuing silence, he takes the lamp from Daidoji-san, holding it for him with a trembling hand. In its light, Juro can see that the neck has been cut open. Not a clean cut- certainly not by a Katana. No other wounds on the skin of the young woman, at least on the parts which are not hidden by her light kimono.
	Keeping an eye on the merchant, Gokuu heads back to the kitchen and asks in a low voice (so as not to be overheard): "Honourable companions, do either of you have any experience at investigation?" Bending down to have a look at the wound for himself, he shakes his head sadly and glances questioningly at Juro and Kasumi: "Can you make anything of this, Daidoji-san? Doji-san?"
	The male Crane motions in the negative, "Little to see, less to judge..."
	Gokuu only nods sadly in agreement so Juro stands and carefully waves his sword toward the door, "Your earlier suggestion was wise, Isawa-san, let us convene in the main room." Following the others, he takes the kitchen lamp, lights it and crosses into the common room. He looks left, then right, then to the Yasuki and his men, but finally chooses to address the Keeper instead. "Perhaps the nearest magistrate is far, but certainly there is a Yoriki in this town ? Or if not this town, the next one."
	"The magistrate is in the next village, somewhat larger than this. It is two hours away.", the innkeeper says. Suddenly his head turns towards the wall behind Daidoji-san and looks there, as if trying to see something in the shadows.
	Almost as one, Kasumi and Gokuu turn, looking to see whether the innkeeper is imagining things or not. Complementing the effort, Juro calmly raises the lamp, its circle of yellowish light extending out to the wall. Reassuring, he says "Nothing there." and indeed, nothing is.
	Just as Juro-san lowers his arm, relieved, he hears a little sound. Wood on wood---only a few inches, then silence. Heart suddenly beating faster, he emphatically motions the others to 'hold' as he snaps into the position of one listening intently... But no further sound is heard. 
	On reflection, the scratching seemed to be coming from the wall where the goods of the merchant are standing. Three strides bring him forward, almost a charge, head turning left and right, searching. Nothing can be seen, only things standing there in absolute silence-- Maybe the sound was a trick played by his imagination?

	Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Gokuu surveys the rest of the main room, making sure everyone in the inn is accounted for. "Since it would be unwise to travel until morning, I suggest," he begins, glancing alternately at Kasumi and Juro.
	Juro rotates his hand so it faces Isawa-san, making the wait signal again. "A noise..." he explains as he pans the light over the wooden boxes, then dips down to survey the floor. (Niggling memories of his family cellar, dangerous things hanging on the walls, resting in boxes like these.) Again nothing out of the ordinary, just soaked barrels: not too unusual considering the evening rain.
	"I heard nothing", says Gokuu as he turns his attention to where Juro is looking. "What kind of noise?" Kasumi also peers at the wall, her hands going to her scroll case.
	The young bushi's form seems to relax as he straightens. "Moving wood." he answers, a casual hand touching one of the barrels and smearing the liquid between his fingers, wondering why they're not dry by now. "Night-" His eyes go round as he stares at his hand, horrified. Unable to tear his gaze away, he speaks in a tight, constricted voice, "There appears to be pieces of... flesh on the..."

	Gokuu instinctively steps back, lest he inadvertently move too close to the barrels. "May the Fortunes look favourably upon us.", he murmurs then makes a beeline for the weapon rack and picks up his bokken, letting the feel of the smooth wood calm his mind. Looking at Juro and Kasumi, he asks: "Would you like me to bring you your own weapons?"
	Kasumi has also backed away, a calm look on her pretty face. She casts a quick glance at the Phoenix, nodding quickly, her eyes darting between the merchant and the barrels.

	Juro finally looks away. Holding the lamp further from his body than strictly necessary, the small Crane raises it up, seeking a point from where the liquid could've dripped. Unfortunetly, the roof seems to be in good condition, nobody hiding in the rafters... Reluctantly, he brings the barrels back into focus : only the one he touched is covered in something that is not water... Still a bit shaky, the young man questions, "What do you carry in these, Yasuki merchant ?"
	"The cloth, you bought, some rice vinegar... and sake in the barrels.", he says, face white with fear and shock. After clearing his throat, the merchant quickly orders his servants to bring his weapon. One grabs his master's yari from the rack and brings it to him, himself armed with a bo. (Gokuu notices the other one moving towards the door. Not too directly, but he's definately putting himself in a strategic position. Frowning, Gokuu tries to find a good position between the door and the barrels, keeping an eye on both the servant and the merchant as he does so.) 
	Daidoji's eyes narrow, suspicions coming together in his mind. "That cloth... still no history ?" (Gokuu takes another, sharper look at the merchant.) The lamp goes on the floor, a safe distance from any fight. 
	Without speaking, the Crane and Phoenix take position in front of the barrel, weapon ready. Kasumi is a little farther back with the innkeeper (who's gotten a long kitchen knife from the other room). Eyes hard, Juro orders the nearest servant to open the barrel but the servant hesitates... looks at his master for directions. 
	The Yasuki shakes his head, "I will do this personally." and steps forward. Showing no apparent concern for the blood, his large hands grip the wooden lid and twist it off... With a fountain of red-tinged vinegar, a bodyless head jumps out of the barrel ! In mid leap, it whips wet hair out of its face, giving all present a chilling flash of mad eyes and gleeming teeth. Bare entrails coil under him, dripping rice vinegar mixed with blood. 
	All stand frozen as the monster hovers in total silence, drops of liquid the only noise as they impact the floor. His eyes, holes of bloodlust, wander from one to the next as if asking: who would be the best victim...
	The scene is broken by Juro's strangled battle cry, pale shadow of what it should be. Fingers numb with fear, he manages a ragged swipe at the thing's intestines, nearly clipping the Yasuki's ear in the process. 
	Paying the vampire no mind, the merchant slips to the back of Juro, his yari ready to impale Gokuu ! Taking a half-step back, his opponent grips his bokken tightly, bringing it into a guarding position. Trying to focus through the fear, he side-stepping the yari's trust. "Treacherous scum," he swears, beads of sweat trickling down his brow.

	Kasumi, revolted by the foul creature, takes a step back and covers her mouth with her left hand. Her right swiftly grabs one of her scrolls and she begins a long, rhythmic chant. 
	The two servants converge on her but the Innkeeper blocks the way. A bo hits him hard on the shoulder. He cries out in pain as he rams his knife into the servant's chest. Hurt, the man stumbles back a few steps, eerily silent. The other servant shoulders past his wounded friend, bo already swinging.

	Daidoji corrects his stance, trying to stop his pounding heart from ripping its way out of his chest. Koroai's blade arcs through the air as he side-steps to the left, barely avoiding the things grasping entrails. 'Why is nobody helping me ?!' The blade's scratched length slices at the fleshy tentacle, cutting off a small piece which falls wetly to the floor. The vampire's scream is full of rage, terrifying rage.
	
	Only peripherally aware of the events around him, Gokuu focuses his attention on the treacherous merchant. Now that he is no longer facing the creature, the fear begins to abate, ever so slightly. The bokken cuts smoothly through the air "Swuff", is the sound it makes. The Kissaki <Tip of the sword> runs in a half-circle and touches the merchants neck. He falls immediately, down but still conscious.
	Realising his bokken will be of little use against the creature, Gokuu slips it through his obi and bends down to retrieve the merchant's yari, hoping it will be of more use against the disgusting mass of floating entrails he can't quite bring himself to look at directly. He turns back towards the disgusting... thing... floating before him and stabs at the creature, hoping fervently both that the yari's length will keep it away from him, and that he can pin it enough to allow Juro to deliver a solid blow. The Yari scratches the vampire's cheek, forcing it to float backwards a little.
	Juro rolls next to Gokuu, putting himself almost between the Phoenix and the thing, but also forcing it to brave the Yari's point to get to them. "Stay high ! To the wall !" he yells as he tries a low cut at the already shortened digestive track. 
	The vampire's screams are still full of rage, but now they also contain pain. It uses its entrails like a whip, slashing out. Juro blocks with his sword, drops of vinegar flying from the impact, splashing on his light blue kimono.

	Suddenly the whispering of the wind can be heard, which soon swells to the roaring of a storm. The servant closing in on Kasumi is forcibly pushed back. He tries to fight against the magical wind with all his strength, but is still blown head over heels across the room.
	Pinned to the floor, he sees the innkeeper struggle with his comrade, force his bodyweight on the wounded man and then put his knife deep into his neck. The first servant falls. With rage borne strength, the other one stems himself against the storm and jumps on the innkeeper, bringing them both to the floor in a heap.

	Focusing, or attempting to focus through the still gripping numbness, Gokuu tries to pin the creature down and allow Juro to hit it more easily. Emboldened by his success, the young Crane also presses the attack on the apparently more vulnerable organ. Katana and yari hit the Vampire almost simultaneously, the yari piercing one of the intestines. But the Pennaggolan just floats up a little higher, tearing its impaled entrails, apparently not bothered in the least.
	"Strategies ?" yells Juro in the short time before the counterattack.
	"Wrong Clan." shouts Gokuu in response to the question.
	"To the Fortunes then !"
	Suddenly the vampire launches itself toward Juro-san, floating right above the bushi's head ! "Duck!", shouts Gokuu as he lowers himself to one knee and stabs upwards, striving to use the yari to keep the foul creature away from Juro. The vampire is hit and immediately tries to get out of range.
	"My <breath> thanks." says Juro as he straightens from his reactive crouch, managing a weak upward strike as he does so. For all its lack of strength, the strike connects, but the entrails give way and coil around the sword, jerking it from his grasp !
	Empty handed, the young bushi swears, eyeing his lost weapon. "Fire ?" he suggests before remembering the vinegar... The Vampire turns around to Gokuu. His eyes sink deep, as if he could detect a weakness there. It is as if his eyes have locked themselves on a new prime target- not a pleasant thought.
	"Too... risky", pants Gokuu as he once again prevents the creature from getting close to the group. Sweat beads down his forehead as he tries, but doesn't quite manage, to find that extra focus that has helped him out in the past.
	"It's rained." reminds Juro. His stomach tightens painfully at the mere thought of contact, but he swallows and lunges for Koroai's silk wrapped grip. He feels the very presence of the vampire- so near as he pulls his sword out of this thing's entrails. Intestines brush against his skin like cold worms, tearing a strangled cry of disgust past his lips.

	Drawing a deep breath, Kasumi keeps chanting, adding power to the howl of the wind, trying to tear the remaining servant from the keeper and pin him to the wall, all the while throwing worried glances in the Pennaggolan's direction. But the servant somehow manages to maintain his grip despite it all... until a strong gust coincides with a sharp blow from the keeper and send him tumbling backward. Unfortunetly, the innkeeper does not get up, apparently knocked unconscious.
	Meanwhile the servant has steadied himself and starts moving towards Kasumi-san. She stops her chanting and grips her knife, trying to remember her few lessons in the use of weapons... Then she strikes, her knife cutting through the air with a swishing sound and planting itself in the servant's shoulder. His Bo falls to the floor as he stumbles back, the knife still imbeded in his flesh.
	 
	Still shuddering from the unatural contact, Juro-san begins a series of lightning cuts, pushing the monster back towards the assembled barrels and advancing behind it. "Water and rice does <breath> burn." he says hoarsely.
	Taking advantage of Juro's skill at keeping the creature at bay, Gokuu uses the brief respite to scan the room, looking for a lamp within easy reach. He spots it somewhat to the side, safely placed there by Juro before all this began.
	Again the vampire´s entrails attack and this time they are able to wind themselves around Juro's wrist. He feels a dizzyness in that moment, the air seeming to take on the consistency of water, slowing down the world around him. 
	The decision, it seems, is already made. Ever so slowly, his katana drops to the floor, landing with a subdued clang. Juro-san reaches up ponderously (yet his arm blurs with speed). Fingers grasps squishy organs below the vampire's neck as his captured hand circles back to land, palm open, on the creature's head and PUSH... There is a great splash of vinegar, his arms plunging up to their elbows into the only open barrel, dragging the pennaggolan along with them ! 
	Time rushes back, "THE LID ! Get the LID !" A surprised thought at the back of his fevered mind, 'Why didn't it resist...?'

	Kasumi takes her eyes off the retreating servant and rushes to pick up the wooden lid from where it lays on the floor. She moves to the barrel, then holds it out in front of her, uncertain of what to do now.
	Juro turns his head, hair flying, surprised she is not Gokuu. But questions can wait, "Sea <breath> Seal it in !" Under the liquid, the Penaggolan is moving around, trapping both wrists in a stinging embrace, burning where entrails touch skin. Juro blinks: the pain is strangely distant, almost dream like...
	Holding the lantern in his left hand, Gokuu drops the yari and rushes next to Kasumi to help her push the lid back on. "On three?" He then waits for Juro-san to remove his hands.
	The male Crane looks up, his face pale, very pale. "My hands, I can't feel..." Suddenly angry, "What are you waiting for !" He stares down at the churning liquid, eyes wide.
	"Get your hands out !" answers Gokuu.
	Thoughts can be seen, re-arranging themselves accross Juro's face. Then, "Oh..." Action immediatly follows comprehension. The young bushi's arms plunge up to the shoulder in the vinegar. Fists open at the bottom then surge back up, up and out into the air, trailing a long rope of intestine behind them.
	Just as the entrails get into sight, Doji Kasumi takes a quick, deep breath and, with Gokuu-san's help, slams the lid shut. The vampire's trapped appendage looses all strength, releasing Juro's hands and twitching eerily on the floor. 
	From inside the barrel, a highpitched scream can be heard, followed by scrapping noises. The barrel starts to shake and tremble... Someone or something wants to get out again...
	Juro-san looks at his hands: there are bloodlines around his wrist and the flesh looks burned on the edges; in between the burns, open muscles can be seen !


Chapter 3 - Long way to dawn

	Juro-san looks at his hands: there are bloodlines around his wrist and the flesh looks burned on the edges; in between the burns, open muscles can be seen- not a pleasant sight.
	Gokuu eyes widen slightly, "Those will need to be treated right away,"
	The wounded Crane looks up to answer but doesn't: on one side stands the remaining servant. He had been lumbering toward the group after picking up his bo, but now just stands there, apparently not knowing what to do.
	Following Juro's gaze, Gokuu takes his bokken out of his obi and points it at the man, "Do you still intend to fight for nothing?", he asks.
	Fear in his eyes, the servant drops his bo and kneels on the floor, surrendering.
	Gokuu slips his bokken back in place and adresses him: "Bring some cold water and clean cloths." Obediently, the servant goes into the kitchen and soon afterwards there is some rattling, some pushing- typical sounds produced by someone who searches for something.

	The situation settled in Gokuu's capable hands, the young Crane walks over to Kasumi, perhaps a bit too light on his feet. He sits on top of the barrel and presses down, maintaining the lid against the vampire's attacks. "If you would, Doji-san, I have noticed that the Keeper has not gotten up..."
	Letting her fellow Crane take her place at the barrel, Kasumi quickly runs towards the innkeeper's prone form, silently punishing herself for not noticing the man's plight sooner. She kneels besides the poor man, reaches into her scrollcase and retrieves the proper scroll. 
	Words of healing fall from her lips, asking the Kami to help her cure the heimin. In the sacred trance, she can clearly sense how the lightly cracked bone sets right and how the injured veins grow together again-- and then the blood flows once more inside its channels... The innkeeper opens his eyes, wide with wonder and awe.

	While Kasumi is busy, Gokuu walks over to Juro. Indicating his wrists, he says: "I have some knowledge of the healing arts. May I take a look?"
	"It would be most helpful... but perhaps there are matters of greater urgency ?" Juro nods to the barrel on which he sits and the merchant on the ground (He also glances at his dropped Katana, eyes narrowing briefly). "My life is in no danger, I assure you... They do not even appear to be bleeding..."
	Frowning, Gokuu looks from the barrel to the merchant and back to Juro's wrists, as indecision creeps slowly into his features. "I must admit that I'm at a loss as to what to do about...", Gokuu begins and lets his voice trail off as he motions to the barrel, "but at the very least I suspect we can find something to place over this barrel so you don't have to spend the rest of the night there. As for him, I'm sure the good innkeeper has rope somewhere," he continues, looking around as he speaks. Returning his eyes to Juro, "And the lack of bleeding, which I do not understand, worries me more than bleeding would, Daidoji-san."
	Juro signals his agreement, "Fortunes be praised, all the parts appear to be working." He closes a hand to demonstrate... It is several moments before he can speak again, muscles clenched and eyes teering. "<pant, pant> Something heavy, perhaps..." Careful not to move his arms more than he as to, he gestures to the assembled crates and barrels.
	Doji Kasumi, now having finished with the innkeeper, rises and rushes to Juro's side, still holding one of her scrolls in her left hand. Seeing his wounded lower arms, she closes her eyes and begins her low-keyed prayers.
	During the healing, Juro looks to where Koroai lays, silent on the floor. Very low, in a soft murmur, "...The drop is now river, the bamboo now flute... Forsaken barrel!" The wounds around his wrists start to close until only a red stripe can be seen. The pain lowers to where it is hardly felt and the dizzy feeling vanishes, although Juro notices that he is not healed totally... The male bushi looks away from his shame and bows as gracefully as his position allows (small twitch when wrist touches kimono). He gives Kasumi a small, warm smile, "I am most grateful, Doji-san."

	The servant returns with the requested things. With a deep bow he offers them to Gokuu-san who takes them with a slight bow of acknowledgment, Gokuu adds: "We will need some rope as well." 
	Then, turning back to his companions, he bows to Kasumi: "Truly is the blessing of the kami wondrous." Gokuu then tips some of the water of his hands, washing them thoroughly, before looking at Juro: "Allow to bandage those up so they can finish healing properly," he says as he prepares strips of clean cloth to use as bandages. "Then we can let you find a more comfortable seat."
	Juro raises a restraining hand, "Perhaps you would be kind enough to show me how it is done, Isawa-san ? I fear I have been touched by... impure matter and should really cleanse the bl-" He pause in mid sentence, frowning. Confused, the small Crane looks to his wrists, to the kitchen then back to his two companions, "...Certainly I know little of such things... yet I am burned and do not bleed but the keeper's daughter..."
	Gokuu stops halfway through preparing the cloth as the implications of Juro's last words sink in. Then, focussing on the task at hand: "I'm not sure you'll be able to tie a bandage properly with just one hand. Let's compromise: I'll show you how to place it, then will tie it properly when you're done," says Gokuu, proceeding as he begins his demonstration. "Do either of you know anything about the..."
	Kasumi puts her scroll away, closing the case at her side. "About...?"
	Gokuu shudders slightly, involuntarily, as he glances at the barrel: "About... that," he finishes.
	Juro signals in the negative as he does his best to follow instructions, gritting his teeth from the pain. A new tension makes his movements more rushed. "It flew in silence," he remembers, "but when we woke there was the sound of wings..." The surrounding gloom is once more filling with potential horrors. "If I may be permitted, I would suggest we seal this lid, then Isawa-san can ask some questions and I... I would search the merchant's wares."
	Gokuu forces himself to concentrate on finishing tying up the bandages properly as Juro's words sink in. Then, nodding slowly, he looks up at Juro and Kasumi. "Doji-san, would you be so kind in helping me find something to seal the lid?", he asks with a bow, waiting politely for her to reply before beginning to look around the room.
	Kasumi blinks and then nods in understanding. Both she and Isawa-san single out  a barrel full of sake. They put it on the larger barrel, sealing the still raging Penaggolan inside.

	Juro-san stands in the darkenned inn, finaly free of the barrel. "Shoto mate kudasai." Careful steps take him before Koroai, then to a kneeling position, both hands touching the floor. Silence.
	Straightening, the young man pauses once more, a tentative hand extends and grasps the hilt. Nothing happens. Visible relieved, Juro stands, Koroai in hand, and looks to the assembled wares by the wall. "Keeper-san, if you would hold the lamp ?"
	The innkeeper comes quickly holding the lamp- he looks at Juro-san then his eyes go to the floor-- again to Juro-san, "Sumimasen, but wouldn't it be the right time to call for the eta-- I mean, I think they should do this searching because of...." He points to the bloody pools of redish vinegar. His eyes are going quickly to the floor again.
	Frowning, the Crane considers, "We will need hands to burn it all... and send word to the magistrate..." He nods to the innkeeper, pauses, then carefully addresses Kasumi, "I would ask your councel, Doji-san... Should he be sent on his own ?"
	Kasumi considers the question. "There is still the question of what woke us up. Could be defend himself if attacked by it? I would suggest sending at least two messagers, just to make sure word reaches the magistrate."
	Daidoji-san open his mouth, closes it then nods once, "Certainly wise... On ah another subject, perhaps someone to accompany the keeper as he talks to villagers ?"
	Doji Kasumi blinks, missing her folding fan. "Indeed."
	Juro bows respectfully "As you wish.", turns and motions for the keeper to follow him, only stopping long enough to retreive Koroai's sheeth and his sandals. "The house of the village chief, keeper-san."
	The innkeeper bows again. "Oh, honored Samurai, the chief of this village is not a Samurai or a magistrate, as I told you before. He is a heimin like me-in charge for our little village."
	"Then he is the man to see if one wants runners sent, wares searched or a fire built, keeper-san." states the Crane samurai's with a hint of annoyance. The innkeeper bows and brings Juro-san to the headman of the village. 
	In a house which looks a little bit better than the others lives an old man- the headman. He bows before Juro-san as he enters and looks questioning to him and the Innkeeper.
	The samurai gives a shallow bow in response, "My apologies for disturbing you at this hour, but there has been a most unfortunate death... Several fast runners are needed to warn the nearest Magistrate and a group of eta sent to the inn. Is this possible ?"
	"Of course this is not a problem", says the headman. "I will give orders, that the runners start as soon as they are informed!!?" there is a hint of a question in this sentence.
	"Here is a good place to meet... Would you have writing implements I could borrow, headman ?" The headman gives Juro-san a sheet of ricepaper.
	Juro kneels, Koroai in his lap. In front of him the brush glides in silence, leaving dark, graceful stains behind. ('Like wearing burning bracelets...' he thinks.)
	The brush stops and is laid down. Rice paper rolled and sealed. "This should suffice for now." says the samurai. He stands and waits for the men to arrive.
	The headman reaches for the paper, promising to hand it over to a runner, but the Crane's hand retreats before his, keeping possession of the paper, "As I must wait for the eta, I would like to address the runner_s_... It is my perhaps flawed opinion that there should be more than one." Steadily looking at the village chief to make him understand the seriousness of what he says, Juro continues, "There are creatures about, Headman. This was not a normal murder, if such a thing exists."
	"Yes, honored samurai, I think that I can understand how serious the situation is... and I thought, that you would want to keep an eye on this deadly creature", the last part of the sentence is more murmered than spoken and the eyes of the headman are directed to the floor as he speaks such bold words.
	Juro's voice soften, reassuring "Your concerns are not without merits, headman, but rest assured the Crane clan has matters well in hand: a Doji Shugenja is in place and in control... There is no need to worry."
	The headman nods and relaxed a little bit.
	His main task completed, Juro-san relaxes somewhat and inquires, "Does your village house someone of skill working with bamboo or metal ? One would need a barrel sealed and re-inforced."
	"Bamboo, is not a problem, but metal????", sorrowly he shakes his head.
	"Have that man woken and brought to the inn with his tools." Juro looks down at Koroai, 'Should have brought my cleaning kit.' he thinks, 'Still shaken... steady... steady.'
	The headman stands up and wakes his son and gives him the order to bring the bamboo worker, a runner (Juro frowns at the singular. His muscles tensing on the grip of his Katana) and the etas.
	The son, a boy of eight runs out of the hut. Soon afterwards two men enter, leaving the etas to wait outside. As they remain silent, Daidoji looks sidelong at the headman, holding out the message.
	The headman bows as he takes the profered roll of paper. He waves the runner towards him and hands it over to him, "Bring this as quickly as possible to the magistrate", he says. 
	The runner takes the message bowing slightly, then he bows deeply before Daidoji-san. "May Zocho carry you swiftly to your destination." says the young Samurai. The runner steps out in the night and vanishes in the darkness. 
	The headman turns towards Juro-san. "In the morning your message will be
delivered." He points towards the other men, "The worker which you have asked
for, Daidoji-sama."
	Juro bows, "You have been most helpful, headman-san, as have been all we have met in your village." Turning to the other man, "Please follow me, worker-san." Daidoji steps out and begins making his way back to the inn, trusting the etas to follow. "Have they told you of your task ?"
	The bamboo worker, a rather young man with an average face- easy to forget, signals in the negative, "If you could be so kind, to tell me again what I have to do.....?" The etas trot behind the two. They are quite unclean and smell like
leatherworkers (which they are!).
	Juro walks a momment in silence, wrists well away from the body. "It would be... unfortune if something where to escape from a specific barrel." A few steps around the soggy outskirts of a large puddle. "Take great care not to remove the lid as you seal and strengthen the barrel, worker-san, we have already lost too many lives..." That said, the small bushi resumes his careful search of the surrounding land.

                                       * * * * *

	During this time, at the inn, Gokuu securely tied the merchant's hand behind his back before examining the bruise he caused and treating it to the best of his ability. Once that is done, Gokuu splashes some cold water on the merchant's face and waits patiently for him to regain consciousness. This takes only a few moments, although the merchant looks a little bit disoriented.
	Waiting patiently for the merchant to fully recover his senses, Gokuu then states: "An explanation is in order, merchant-san." As he sits down to listen to the merchant's explanation, Gokuu also keeps an eye on the last servant, just in case.
	The merchant does not say a word. He simply looks at Gokuu, silent.
	Gokuu shrugs, then looks at the servant: "Why did you attack us?", he asks, using the same neutral tone he used with the merchant to indicate he considers them of equal standing.
	Silence is all Gokuu-san gets... Getting up, he goes over to the merchant's bags, and starts tossing the tissue out as he looks for any ledger, letters, or anything else that may give some clue as to the merchant's identity, origin and destination. (Doji Kasumi looks at the merchant, contempt in her eyes, crossing her arms in front of her.)
	Gokuu sighs resignedly. Then, grabbing some of the beautiful cloth, he turns to the merchant again. "Yasuki-san", he begins, holding up the cloth, "your tongue was wagging quite extensively when you were trying to sell this. Why so silent now?" Looking down at the tissue in disgust, he then turns to Kasumi: "Doji-san, would you be so kind as to help me set up a brazier so that our 'acquaintance' can watch his silence send his profits up in smoke?" So saying, Gokuu begins to look for the necessary material.
	Doji Kasumi nods. "Why of course, Isawa-san, I'd be delighted to."
	"No, you can not do that", shouts the merchant. Then he notices his uncontrolled outbreak and sits down again- pain in his eyes.
	Looking at the merchant more closely, she tilts her head slightly to the side. "We cannot? Why not, pray tell? Is there perhaps some-" Kasumi stops abruptly and then walks over to the cloths. Grabbing one, she eyes it carefully. "It is a very unusual cloth, indeed. Perhaps too unusual?"
	Gokuu stops as well, thinking. "Perhaps you are right, Doji-san. But if our acquaintance doesn't wish to be more informative, I see little other choice but to offer his wares up to the spirits of fire." Gokuu pauses for a second. "Unless, of couse, you have a better suggestiong?" he adds with a bow to Kasumi, then, turning towards the merchant, "or perhaps you have recovered your smooth tongue?"
	"Why should I talk? I am already sentenced to death, aren't I ??" he says with a grim smile on his lips. "I need not care for profit anymore, so it logicaly follows that I do not have to worry about the burning of my cloth."
	"I don't know. I'm not a magistrate, and the decision is not mine to make. I will, however, plead with the magistrate that you be left alive, and made to perform work of use to the community. I'm sure the eta could use extra help." replies Gokuu.
	"Ha", says the merchant, "you are a fool. Do you really believe that I will keep my life in the Crane land ?????" He looks shortly in Kasumi-san´s direction. "And I would never, ever do the work of an eta!"
	Kasumi puts the cloths down and looks at the merchant, "Yes, you are correct. You will most probably die in these lands, yes, but how much pain and suffering you will be subjected to before your demise is unknown to us, since we are not the magistrate. I am certain that he will see the wisdom in giving you a quick and painless death," she says, somehow sounding sad. "And there is the fact that your family might come under close inspection due to your involvement in these matters. The Emerald magistrates do not look kindly upon these matters, and we all know that where there is smoke..."
	Gokuu nods slowly, pensively, at Kasumi's words. Then, turning to the merchant: "Keep your life? I don't know, but I very much doubt that the lands we are in will make much of a difference given the nature of the crime. As for you assertion about 'never ever' doing eta's work, your assuming you would have a choice in the matter." Gokuu shakes his head sadly. "In any event, your stubborn refusal to cooperate will only serve to further shame you, and your family, while cooperation might at least preserver their honour, even if it is unlikely to save your life. But you should have anticipated the consequences when you chose to consort with such...", concludes Gokuu, gesturing towards the barrel.
	"Then you two are asuming that I fear the consequences, but I don´t. I only want to point out that I do not see any reason for cooperation. And as you can deduce from my words- honor is no reason for me." He again looks at Kasumi," And I do you a favor with that, don´t I. So I fit perfectly in your picture of a Yasuki." You see a mad gleam starting in his eyes.
	Kasumi sighs sadly and turns to Gokuu. "Now what, Isawa-san?"
	Gokuu shakes his head slowly. "To be honest, I don't know. I have no experience in dealing with madness. Perhaps the magistrate will be more persuasive than us. I'm afraid all that is left for us to do is wait." Silence falls...

	Juro's measured steps bring him and his retinue under the inn's veranda. He takes a cautious look inside before entering and announcing his presence, "Tadaima." 'A bit too familiar, perhaps...'
	Gokuu bows as he sees Juro come in. "Daidoji-san, welcome back. I hope you met with more success than we. Unfortunately," Gokuu continues with a gesture towards the merchant, "we seem to be dealing with a madman, and neither appeal to honour nor reason will make him reveal anything useful."
	"The Yasuki are well known for these very qualities. My apologies for leaving you with a difficult task, Isawa-san." The wiry Crane bushi then bows to Kasumi, "Doji-san... A messenger has been sent with a description of what happened here. The headman assures me he is quite fast and reliable." A short pause, "He also recomended these men to assist us." He gestures to the worker, then waits, looking rather worn around the edges.
	Kasumi bows back. "Forgive me for asking, Daidoji-san, but how long will it be before the magistrate arrives ?"
	Juro blinks, his memory refusing to yield the information. Then it passes, "In the morning, Doji-san. Barring the unforseen, I imagine the Magistrate should arrive somewhere after noon... Shall I handle the workers ?"
	"If you wish. But I suggest that we decide on what to do with... our merchant friend in the meantime. After all, he might try to flee if not kept under close watch." Kasumi looks around. "And then the barrel."
	Daidoji glances at the bound and weaponless Yasuki, "I will stand guard when we sleep, Doji-san." The matter apparently settled, he turns to another. "This is the barrel, worker-san. Signal if you need help with anything." To the etas, "You two move it over there so he has room to work... Yosh." Juro then locks his knees and begins the long, meticulous process of searching the merchant's goods.
	Pausing, Juro addresses the innkeeper in a softer voice, "We will be busy for some time, keeper-san. You should rest..."
	The innkeeper goes into the kitchen, but every minute or so he pokes his head in, eyeing to see if someone needs something.
	Juro ignores him, concentrating instead on the etas and the worker. The worker seems somewhat frightened by the sounds which come from inside the barrel, but he works on it even with a pale face and trembling hands. After one hour, the first rosy beams of the sun begin to filter into the inn... The etas find nothing. 
	"That will be all... for the moment. Return to your families." With heavy steps, the young Crane drags his bag over to a table and sits, rather faster than anticipated. From the bag, he extract a flat wooden box, and from the box, a piece of shining blue fabric. Hanging it over the lamp, he calmly sets it afire and lays it to burn in a nearby bowl. He gazes down thoughtfully, admiring the play of light on the stained surface of his katana... Sighing, he starts to clean the blade.
	Taking one last look at the uncooperative merchant, Gokuu walks over to make sure the rope is tied securely. Having ensured that the merchant can't escape, Gokuu whispers softly, more to himself than to anyone in particular: "Well, nothing left to do but wait." He finds a quiet corner where he can feel the rising sun's rays and kneels in seiza to meditate for a short time.

	Blinking at the steel in his hands, Juro's foggy mind suddenly remembers how the stains came to be there and why he still holds the blade in hand. He turns to Kasumi, straighens himself into a proper kneeling position... and remains silent for a while, preparing his words. "This night has been eventful, Doji-san, yet I fear I have neglected my duty to my ancestors. I... would like to cleanse my sword and myself. To that end, I humbly ask for the help of the Kamis." He bows down and remains there.
	Doji Kasumi is silent for a few seconds. "I understand," she says, knowing that it takes a torii gate to cleanse him fully.
	The young man returns to a kneeling position, "Though I myself am but a simple bushi, my family would be most grateful for any help you could give, Doji-san." Something in that statement seems to be bothering him, but his face smoothes over almost immediatly. Fatigue no doubt.
	"We have to wait until we find a torii gate, but I will help in any way I can," Kasumi says, seemingly not having noticed Juro's facial maneuvers.
	Juro bows again, "Thank you." He pauses, unsure, then smiles slowly... before returning to his cleaning without another word.
	It was a night without rest for all involved and the infant day brings no relief. The group settles into silence, resting as they can while watching their captives and willing the day away. Fatigue clings to all like fog, but some things have to be settled... Then the relative silence of the inn is broken as two samurais with their yojimbos enter the inn. The magistrates have arrived.

Prologue II - Sea food (7-16-99)

	Once there was a daimyo in a little land near the coast. All people lived happily in his domain until a Gaijin pirate ship landed on one of his beaches. Although landed might not be the right word: their ship had broken sails, they had lost their way. They came down from the beach, tormenting farmers and fishermen, stealing their harvest and raping their women.
	The poor peasants went to their daimyo and found that he was not interested in freeing them. Instead he waited, hoping the pirates would leave sooner or later... but they did not leave and one day they lay siege to his castle. He and his family were killed, but the pirates did not celebrate their victory very long: Doji Setuko, the young daughter of a neighbouring daimyo, came with a little army and killed all of them. After her victory, she was named daimyo of the region. 

                                       * * * * *

	Many are invited to the feast celebrating the rebuilding of the castle, Eye of the Ocean. It is a nice feast, but most of the guests are cranes. Strange to say, there is one Scorpion- Bayushi Yojiro, the one they call the honest scorpion.

	The castle was beautiful.  Soshi Yahura knew what it had looked like before, and they had done a wondrous job at rebuilding the place.  She knew how much work had gone into it, because a Soshi had been quietly working alongside the other peasants.  She smiled.  There was little that happened that did not have a Scorpion hand in it somewhere.
	Yahura stood quietly off to one side.  The Cranes politely pretended she was not there, until she chose to step forward.  She watched the interplay, the jockeying that was so in evidence even in this mostly Crane gathering. It seemed when they could not compete with the other Clans, they made the peaceful battle with each other.
	Stepping out of her self-imposed exile, Yahura made her way to greet the hostess. "Honor to your family, Doji Setuko.  Word of your great deed has reached the very ends of the Empire.  Your glory shall be set into the stars, and spoken of for many generations."  she said, bowing to the Doji woman.   
	Doji Setsuko returned the bow.  "I have only done what was necessary.  The honorless gaijin must be taught what happens when they threaten us."
	"Of course.  We are fortunate indeed that the Doji are strong and vigilant against their threat.  As the Crab guard the Wall against Fu Leng, so too do the noble Crane watch the seas and ward us against Gaijin pirates."
	Soshi Yahura smiled inwardly, as the Doji stiffened slightly.  She knew their had been no overt insult in the statement that the woman could make into a challenge. Best not to press, however.  
	She made her way to the main gathering.  She was surprised to see a Hida here, and even more surprised to see the Bayushi. She frowned slightly.  She had heard of that one.  Bayushi Yojiro, the honorable Scorpion.  His nobility and forthright honesty had, at times, made him more dangerous than any other Scorpion in Rokugan.
	She chose not to approach him.  He was greater than she, and would make his desire known if he wished to speak with her.  She would not insult him by pressing herself upon him.
	
	Hida Tokomo greets the guests as he enters.  He eyes the scorpion suspiciously and then moves on to Doji Setuko.  "You have done your ancestors well in beating off the foreigners," he says as he bows.
	Doji Setuko bows slightly, "I have only done my duty in defending Rokugan against the Gaijin, who are worse than Eta."
	"I am honored to be part of this assembly and will carry word of your bravery in battle home by messenger.  You will serve as an example to my people that the Crane can indeed fight."
	"Everyone has his place in the order of things. One of my duties was it to repel the Gaijin as the Crabs keep Rokugan free of Shadowland creatures. All these things serve the Emperor." 
	After finishing the conversation with Setuko, Tokomo heads for the Scorpion Samurai.  He hopes secretly that his mighty lineage and his raw size serve to intimidate the Scorpion.  He bears little love for their murderous backstabing kind.  It seems they would rather sulk in the shadows than face a tetsubo. 
	But, he's a diplomat now.  Funny how things work out. "I hope that your journey from your homelands has not left your weary Bayushi-san, I am Tokomoko of the Hida family come as a representative to the Cranes."
	Bayushi Yojiro-san bows, "Thanks for thinking on my comfort, but the journey was smooth, Hida-san." 
	It is strange to look into a Scorpions face, which is not covered by a mask. Strange and comforting in a way. It is easier to fight what you can see, "I am happy to hear that your journey went well, what brings you to Crane lands?"
	"Oh", he says, "I am here in my function as Emerald magistrate." He looks friendly to the Crab. Hida-san gets the feeling as if the Scorpion´s eyes can see deep into his very self. A discomforting feeling.
	"I trust their is no trouble in the province after these great events?  perhaps fear of the Gaijin returning?" 
	"The Gaijin", he says, "No I do not think that they will return, at least not now. As Doji-san told me all of them are dead." As he says that he lifts his hands and let his fingers touch each other.
	"Ah, but my people are used to scum coming again and again and again and again and again... but I digress.  If you are in need of any assistance the Crab may provide, be sure to contact me while I am here. Please also send my regards to his majesty."
	"Gajin", he says," are not Shadowlands creatures. Although some of them seem to behave like Goblins. But maybe your help will be needed in the future", he ends bowing politely.
	After finishing with the Emerald magistrate Tokomo notices that their is yet another scorpion in the midst of the crowd talking to a Crane and decides that he will make another introduction.  The best way to deal with the Scorpion was to keep an eye on all of them.  The ones that you can't watch tend to be the most difficult.
	On closer inspection, that particular crane appears to be someone remembered from this years Topaz championship at the Kakita fencing school, winning all contest and reaching the final round. "Ah," Tokomo thinks to himself as he walks/stomps over, "a young one itching to test his metal against the sting of the Scorpion!  A must see!"

       Some time back, a pretty crane approached Soshi-san. "Sumimasen", he says bowing, a nice smile on his face. The smile as artificial as the mask, which the Scorpion wears. 
	Soshi Yahura bows to the attractive Crane man.  She favors him with a polite smile that does not reach her eyes.  The mask she wears is a well crafted silken work, that begins at her hairline, and weaves down to cover the bridge of her nose, and down over her cheeks, ending at her neckline. Opening for her eyes are decorated with tiny red flowers. "A pleasure to meet you, noble Crane.  I am called Soshi Yahura.  May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
	"My name is Kakita Akira", he says bowing slightly. "Isn't it a pleasant sight that all remaining of these Gaijin have been removed in such a short time."
	Yahura smiled and nods.  "It is indeed pleasant to see that the Crane have removed the last vestiges of the Gaijin pirates from their holdings.  I was saddened that they had dared so grave an insult as to dare to take a Crane holding as their own. You must be very proud of Doji Setuko for her decisive actions in ridding the land of the honorless dogs."
	He smiles and nods. It is a very open and honest reaction.
	Yahura paused, puzzled by the Crane's reaction.  Her words had carried subtle barbs, and yet he had reacted as if the compliments were sweet as the Emperor's own dessert.  Interesting.  She favored the Crane with a rare honest smile, amused and intrigued by his guileless honesty. "I am honored that the Cranes have invited me here to help them celebrate their glorious victory.  If there is some service I can perform, some favor I can grant while I am enjoying Crane hospitality, the Crane have but to ask, of course."  she said with a smile.
	About this time Tokomo reaches the pair, "I am happy to see you've become a man!  Have you been assigned any duties yet?", he says casually ignoring the scorpion.
	Yahura takes a step back to let the Crab interrupt.  She waits, knowing that the Crane cannot ignore her offer without offering grave insult to her and to her Clan, but has now been placed in the position of having to respond to the Crab as well.  She wonders who the Crane will choose to insult.  A most sticky situation.  She smiles.  This should be interesting.
	The Crane looks at Yahura-san then to Tokomo-san and says, "My duties at the moment are to see if the guest´s wishes are satisfied. I have learned now that Soshi-san", he bows in Yahura´s direction, "enjoys the celebration and that she is eager to defend the emperor´s land against the gaijin and I just wanted to answer her, that she would do us a great favor if she enjoys our hospitality today." After saying this he looks at the two samurai.
	Soshi Yahura smiles.  A delicately worded reply from the Crane. "I think it would be best if we continued our discourse later, yes?  This honorable samurai seems anxious to speak with you, and Crabs are not known for their patience with matters of etiquette." She smiles and bows slightly to the Crab, whether he acknowledges the courtesy or not. 
	Kakita-san stands there in silence. Waiting for a reaction of the crab.
	Tokomo laughs, "I don't see the need for you to run off yet, perhaps we can all talk?  I'd love to hear of the boys recent accomplishments and I'm sure you'd love to hear how well they train these Crane youth!"
	Yahura nods.  "As you wish, honorable Hida.  I simply did not wish to intrude upon your privacy.  I will stay if you wish it."
	The young crane bows, "I can not tell you much about accomplishments, I just passed my Gembukko and in the battle I was filed in the reserve troupes."
	"Where will you be stationed then?  Here in the local garrison?" 
	"Hai", he says and both of you can see, that he feels uncomfortable as the centre of attention.
	Tokomo gives him a hearty slap on the shoulder and says, "Do well in your post, the empire always needs a strong defender."  Turning to the scorpion he asks, "So what brings you here?"
	Yahura smiles at the Crane, and says  "I am sure you will serve with honor and distinction.  Surely you will bring Glory to your family.  I wish you well in your endeavours." Then she turns to the Crane, and says  "I have been invited here to celebrate the Phoenix success.  And what brings you so far from the Wall, honorable Hida?"
	"As have I," he says, "but I try never to miss a Crane event.  They are gracious hosts and only rarely poison the drinks. On the wall we don't have time for these things and it is nice to enjoy what we protect."
	Soshi Yahura smiles, raising an eyebrow. "A most unusual attitude for a Crab.  I have heard that the Crab can barely stand to be pulled from the Wall for any reason, and yet you say you enjoy the civilised amenities our Crane hosts have been so generous with?  Intriguing.  So tell me, are you unusual among Hida, or have we all been misled by Crab cunning concerning such matters?"
	"The Hida have always enjoyed good things, when we have time," Tokomo eyes her, "we all have our duties, and duty comes before *everything*. I imagine if the threat from beyond the wall ever ceases you would be amazed at what a Crab could do for relaxation, alas we are rarely allowed such treats. In my position I have been given the honor of furthering our efforts through diplomacy and I am thus allowed to enjoy the benefits of my post. I will however always be Crab."
	"Those of us who benefit from the Crab's vigilance are most pleased that you and your Clan serve so vigilantly.  It pleases me that even the staunchest of warrior takes time for the finer things in life.  It would be a pity to fight all one's life to defend us, without ever being allowed to sample the fruits of your effort.  If there is anything that I can do to make your time from the Wall more pleasant, you have but to ask."  Yahura said, her honeyed voice making the simple words seem a treat.
	Tokomo stood a long while thinking.  A long while.  "Perhaps," he said, "someday, perhaps."
	Yahura smiles and nods.  "You have but to ask.  I am pleased to assist Rokugan's most devoted servants in any way possible." 

	Asahina Kitsunen, one Daimyo of a little land under Doji Setuko-san´s reign approaches the Crab and the Scorpion. He waits somewhat in the distance until there is a natural pause in the talk, then he steps forward. "Sumimasen", he says," but may I interrupt your discussion for a brief moment?"
	Tokomo looks over at the Doji and greets him, "it is always a pleasure to have more involved in a conversation."
	The Crane bows and looks then to the Scorpion, if she also agrees.
	Soshi Yahura smiled and bowed. "By all means.  How may we be of assistance?"
	He bows again. "I think it will be more concerning our diplomat", he nods to Tokomo," but perhaps you can also offer me a helping hand. Is any of you invited or send to Otosan Uchi to attend the Bon Festival there?"
	"By happy coincidence, upon leaving this wonderful festival,  I find that I will be travelling to Otosan Uchi myself.  I have certain family arrangements to make there.  Perhaps the Fortunes have deemed that I help you, do you think?  What manner of assistance may a hunble Scorpion offer you?"
	"I have not yet recieved such a pleasure," Tokomo replies.
	Asahina-san smiles at both of them. "Well, I am afraid to bother with such a little task, but I want to send a small present to my brother in the city and I on my part can not participate in the festivals. I thought, that if someone goes there already", he nods towards Yahura-san, "it would be easy to do me that favor. If you want to attend the Bon", he turns his attention to the Crab, "you are the guest of my brother- of course."
	Yahura bows and says with a polished smile. "It would be my honor to perform this favor for you, noble Asahina.  I will deliver the gift at haste. Who is your brother and how may I find him?"
	"As an emmisary of the Crab for the Crane and in fulfilling my official role I'd be glad to go," turning towards the Scorpion, "I wouldn't even mind if you accompany 
me*."
	Yahura turns and bows smoothly.  "You honor me with your kindness.  It would be my humble honor to accompany you on this journey, and aid you in delivering this package safely.  I am sure that with the package entrusted to the care of a mighty Crab, no thief would dare to attempt to steal it."
	Asahina-san bows again. "I am very honored to see the present in such competent hands." He looks at both of you. "I would suggest, that you enjoy the reminder of the festival and tommorow you will come with me to my lands and be my guests. My home lies on  the way and there I can give you the package".
	"Till tomorrow then," Tokomo says bowing, "at the sunrise ?"
	Yahura nods and smiles, returning the bow with the correct degree of respect.  Then she turns and heads off to mingle with the courtiers, exchange gossip, and keep an ear out for anything she can use to her advantage.

	The rest of the evening is spent in polite conversations. Amid the chatter, one hears that Asahina Kitsunen-san was one of the first to swear loyalty to the new daimyo Doji Setuko. One also hears that there are two fractions present, one happy that the loose reign of the old leadership has gone, replaced by Doji Setuko's straighter approach, the other fearing the loss of some freedoms.

                                       * * * * *

	The next day, three people meet early in the morning- a Scorpion, a Crab and a Crane. Asahina Kitsunen is quiet, he looks tired.
	During the course of the trip, Tokomo diplomaticly slips a few questions to lighten the silence. "How are your lands comming along, Asahina-san ?"
	"Now with the Gajin away and the young new Daimyo the future will be prosperous. Indeed, the Emerald Champion has promised that the taxes will be lowered for the year."
	"And is your family well represented at the bon festival?"
	"Only my brother and his sister in law will be at the festival in Otosan Uchi. I myself will give a bon festival at home. There has to be someone at the family´s shrine, hasn´t there."
	The conversation continues on topics of lesser importance. By midday, the group arrives at Asahina-san's living place. It is a noble house outside a middlesized village. They are greeted by his wife and some of his seven yorikis.
	Lunch is simple, but delicious. During the meal he asks his visitors to stay at his guests at least until tommorow- to rest and enjoy themselves.
	Tokomo accepts the offer but replies, "in order to complete the task you have given us we will be leaving early in the morning just before sunrise.  We thank you for your most gracious hospitality."
	Yahura bows to the man. "I humbly accept your gracious offer.  Your generositiy shines brightly in the eyes of the Fortunes. May you be blessed in all your endeavors."
	The woman bows and then leaves the room, she has a sad face now. Asahina sips the last remainings of his tea, "I would be most honored if I could invite you two to the teahouse this evening!?"
	Yahura nods and says "You do us much honor. I would be pleased to attend you in the teahouse this evening."
	"So, then we go there in the evening..."

	Amateratsu has nearly ended her daily jouney as the Scorpion, the Crab and the Crane with his Yorikis start out to enjoy the evening in the nearby Teahouse. Good food is served and there is a Geisha playing the Shamisen.
	After all have eaten he offers Sake.
	Yahura humbly accepts, "I compliment you on your excellent choice of teahouses.  The food was exquisite, and the eternal was sublime."
	"I'm sorry" says Tokomo, "I must decline, duty calls tomorrow and I must be ready. It is the way of the Crab."
	"Then you will want a tea instead", and before Tokomo can say something tea is poured in his cup. Then Asahina-san sits in silence for a few moments. (Of course he is not just sitting there, but this is Haragei- "talking without saying word".) 
	Suddenly Yahura notices a faint smell of smoke... She frowns slightly at the odor, and stands.  "Pardon me, please, noble Asahina-san, but do you perhaps smell smoke?"
	Asahina-san raises his head and takes a deep breath. Then his eyes widen, "Yes, I smell it. Excuse me!" With this he stands up and heads to the door.
	Yahura waits politely for the lord of the house to check on the strange odor.  
	The geisha puts her shamisen to the side and stands up. As Asahina-san opens the door, a female voice is shouting "Fire !".
	Yahura heads after her host to help assess what might be happening outside, and what threat it poses to her well being.
	The crackling of fire can be heard now. Asahina-san tries to lead his two guests out of the teahouse. Tokomo follows Asahina out and tries to identify the source of the fire while collecting his katana and any other items he put away for the ceremony.
	Downstairs some Geisha and other servants are trying to extingish the quickly spreading fire. It is everywhere, seemingly coming from all sides. The air is thick with smoke- bringing tears to the eyes.
	Crabs have been on the wall for centuries and when the wall is attacked with fire, all Crab help.  Tokomo finds a place in line to assist with extinguishing the fire.  The impulse is automatic.  He also tries to arrange the servants in the most efficient manner possible if he sees room for improvement.
	The bodyguard of the teahouse is first astonished by the samurai who helps him and the women, but then he sees that the crab finds himself a very good place in the waterchain (buckets handed over in a row of people).

	Yahura walks with the others, watching the dancing flames.  Then she steps away, moving quietly to where she can see tongues of fire lapping at the building. Centering her mind, focussing on the power of the Flame, she reached out with her thoughts and with her prayers, sending out greetings to the spirit within the fire, seeking communion.
	Yahura-san hears the crackling of the fire in her mind- her thoughts dancing like the flames. There is a welcome in the all consuming fire. Yahura´s perception shifts and now she hears the crackling as cheerful laughter.
	She lets her mind accept the joy the of the flames, crackling as they do, revelling in the destruction that is their very life.  As she listens and accepts their welcome, she forms the question in her mind, asking for a boon of knowledge, the vision of how they came to be, who first gave them life in this place.
	"Life? we always live-----sleeping in the earth(wood)---awaked by the kiss of a little brother"-"That´s me", a tiny crackling voice shouts out and with that you see a flame the size of a torchfire leaping our of the chorus of it´s brothers (or sisters?), only to merge with them a few moments later).
	"How came you here, little brother?  Who blessed you with this wonderous place to live and feast?  What human carried you to this place?"
	"Yes it was a human, but what means this what??", says the chorus of flames.
	Yahura smiles. Elemental spirits had different and alien viewpoints, they might not be able to tell one human from another. She'd have to phrase the question carefully. "The human who brought you here,  do you know it's appearance?  If once more you were near the human, would you know it?"
	The little flame once more danced out of the croud. "It has the smell of me on it- the human I mean." 
	Yahura feels her grip on the fire getting weaker. Still, she smiles. The man who had set the flames would have the smell of the flame upon him, a touch of fire.  That would make her task much easier. "I thank you, little flame."  she says, breaking her grip on the fire spirit. Then she heads off to rejoin the others.  
	When she reaches the main grouping of men, she begins a prayer, one designed to Sense the flame, Sense the essence of the small flame that she had so recently communicated with, to sense it's touch on the people around her. Only the guilty party would have that unique "smell" on him....
	But there is no main grouping of men. The crab works hand in hand with the servants to extinguish the fire. Asahina-san has lead the geishas out and is now trying to save his female Scorpion guest.
	Yahura heads over to join Asahina-san. There was likely no better place to start than with another Scorpion. Although if it were she, her course of action would be much different than if it were another...

	And the crab continues to work... Finally they are able to extinguish the fire. But it has ruined nearly the entire teahouse.
      Outside Asahina-sama goes to apologize to his guests as a Yoriki comes. He bows politly, but nevertheless interrupts the Crane. "Honored Asahina-sama, I apologize for interupting you, but a runner has brought word of a Shadowland incursion in a tiny village."
	Asahina Kitsunen´s angry look at the interruption smoothens and then folds again in sorrow. "That is indeed bad news and the Emerald magistrate, Your lord, is two day's journey from here... Are some troops on their way to destroy this minion of the One Who Should Not Be Named ?"
	"No, the runner said the Fortunes were on their side because three samurai were guests at the moment", says the Yoriki. "and a Yasuki," he pauses and looks as if he has a bad taste in his mouth "is accused of collaborating with this abomination... a Penaggolan. The samurai have imprisoned him and the Yasuki one."
	Asahina-sama stands there, lost in thoughts.
	Soshi Yahura steps forward, and performs the appropriate bow to Asahina-sama, before speaking. "Honored Asahina-sama.  If it would please you, I would be willing to go to this village, and assist in this matter.  My father has instructed me in certain interrogation techniques that may prove useful in uncovering the truth of this matter.  I would be honored to utilize this skill in... questioning the Yasuki."
	A mean little smile escapes Asahina Kitsunen-sama.
	"If I may," Tokomo interjects, "I have some experience with the shadowlands due to my previous duties on the wall...."
	Asahina-sama looks at his guests, then bows. "I am most honored by your willingness to help in this matter and I am also more than in your debt. Please allow me to give you two of my samurais as yojimbos for the journey. I will also give you papers stating that you are my assigned magistrates in this mission."
	Yahura smiles slightly, and bows. "I would be honored to accept your retainer as my yojimbo. I will strive to serve you with all my skill in this matter."
	"Normally, I would advise you to take a night´s sleep before the journey, but I think this matter does not allow any delay. So I would ask you to go as quickly as possible.", says Asahina-sama.
	Yahura nods, and turns to the Crab. "I am ready to go. Are you prepared as well?"
	Tokomo nods his head, he is ready to leave.


Chapter 4 - Windblown ashes

	Tokomo strides confidently into the room but his nose detects an awful stench and his eyes are drawn to the restrained Yasuki, "What happened here and why is my cousin being held?"
	Doji Kasumi bows to the newly arrived samurai, nothing in her face or manner indicating if the Crab's directness has offended her. "Doji Kasumi. I am honoured to meet you, honourable samurai."
	One step behind her, Juro blinks away his fatigue, smoothing his features into rest. "Daidoji Juro." Since Doji-san bowed, he too bows, though perhaps not has deep as he could... and then realises he still holds his naked sword. "Please excuse this breach of ah etiquette. A vow to be fulfilled..."
	Gokuu, drawn out of his meditation by the sound of new voices, bows to them and introduces himself: "Greetings. I am Isawa Gokuu."
	Presentations done (at least on their side), Kasumi can finaly address the Crab's question, "It brings me much sadness to tell you this, but your cousin is responsible for his current position. We were forced to take action when he attacked our backs while we tried to fight the vampire he sheltered in one of his bar-"
	"He sheltered a denizen of the shadowlands?!?" Tokomo immediately turns on the Yasuki, "have you forgotten your duty to the empire? What has driven you to this filth?" The Yasuki looks up and for the first time, there is something like fear in his eyes... but he does not answer. Tokomo stews, disgusted.

	Juro's face is getting more expressionless, his stance stiffer, as several facts make their way through his rapidly unfogging mind : the lack of names from both these newcomers, the apparent lack of credentials and... their clan : a Crab and a Scorpion?
	But Soshi Yahura returns the bows with practiced grace. She is a lithe and beautiful woman, her hair black as a raven's wing, her pale features hidden behind a mask of white porcelain. As she straightend, the silk of her kimono rustles softly, the light catching its intricate patterns of black and red.  Her dark eyes lift to catch the Daidoji's, and she gives him a slight smile. "I am Soshi Yahura. It is my honor to serve in this matter as magistrate to the honorable Asahina Kitsunen. These are my yojimbo with me. Is there one who speaks for you all, that I may present my credentials, to prove my words?"
	The male Crane remains silent, though more relaxed. His position and their Clan enough of an answer for the quiet man. Though, with a look at the Crab, he still tilts his head slightly in Kasumi's direction.
	In an efficiency of movement that only a Crab could pull off, Tokomo hands his official papers to Kasumi while he moves in front of the Yasuki. "You heard me!" Tokomo bellows, "Speak now. What have you to do with this?" No answer.
	As if to compensate for her companion's lack of manners, Yahura bows again and offers "Fortune's blessings upon you." as she hands her papers over to Kasumi as well.
	Doji Kasumi looks at them fleetingly, not really reading the words on their surface. She hands them to Juro, allowing him to examine them for himself.
	"And you magistrate," covers Gokuu bowing a touch lower. "May I enquire as to whom your companion is?" he asks, looking toward the samurai bearing the Crab mon.
	Yahura nods, and introduces her companion, "The honorable Hida Tokomo."
	Nodding, Gokuu looks towards the new Crab, wondering if his method of dealing with the merchant will prove effective.
	"...Will I be forced to send pieces of you home to your family so they may all be dishonored?" asks Tokomo. "Why have you done this?" Still no answer.
	Her eyes on the Yasuki, a soft and pleasant smile on her face, Yahura walks over to stand beside the enraged Tokomo. Stepping to one side to avoid coming between the angry Crab and his cousin, she lowers herself to rest on her heels and leans forward to speak quietly to the Yasuki. "My name is Soshi Yahura. My father is Soshi Gachi. Perhaps you have heard the name? You and I have much to talk about, don't you agree? You have been a very bad boy, I'm afraid. But don't worry. We will get the the bottom of this, you and I. One way or the other..." Her words are chillingly mild, a voice smooth as rice wine.
	The Yasuki sits there, silent, trembling with fear. He looks to the floor.
	The Crab gestures angrily at the prisoner, then turns. "You." pointing at Juro, "It is a pleasure to see that someone knows that you are supposed to *fight* the shadowlands not copulate with them. Does he have any traveling papers or trade permits?"
	Finishing reading the magistrate's own papers, the young Daidoji looks to Doji-san - who remains silent though seemingly far from pleased. As there are no objections, he bows to the Crab, showing proper respect as he had not before. He then falls into the clipped style his grandfather uses on visiting Crabs, with some results. "Honourable Magistrate, I was abscent at the time of the questionning. Doji-san was present, with Isawa-san asking the questions."
	Never taking her eyes off the yasuki, Yahura says "Then perhaps one of you would be willing to tell me what information we yet need from this wretch? It will make it that much easier to interrogate him."
	"I fear that he has been less than cooperative, Soshi-san," Doji Kasumi says. "So far he has only claimed that he cares little for honor an glory, nor the well-being of his family. Nor did the information of the punishments for his crime help, as he simply... laughed at them."
	Soshi yahura smiles at the uncooperative Yasuki. "You must be very brave, to speak so in the face of certain death. But there are worse things than death to be found in Soshi dungeons, little Yasuki. And I know them all...." She begins to take from her bag a number of long bamboo slivers, each painted with tiny runes, their ends sharpened with painstaking care. She examines each in turn, holding them up for the Yasuki to see. "I believe we will start with the basics..."
	The Yasuki swallows deeply, but tries to steady himself.
	"Hmph, it is to bad for you Yasuki-chan" says Tokomo, "I personally am against torture, but you deserve nothing better." Turning to Yahura he asks, "Shall we leave you to your work or is there something you need? And please, on behalf of my clan, make sure he pays for his failure to his duty."
	Yahura nods. "He is brave. He will suffer much before he tells me everything. But in the end, he will tell me what I wish to know. Only then will he find the relief of swift and merciful death... For this to be, I require nothing but my training and a little privacy. If there is a room where I can be undisturbed, I would be most appreciative." The last is directed at the group as a whole.
	Kasumi considers the magistrates question. "There is one more room, indeed, but I fear that the dead body of the innkeeper's daughter lies in there. If it is to your liking, perhaps the etas could... move the body in question."
	"We will settle around it." decides Yahura. She directs her yorikis to start preparing the room but all freeze as an ominous rumbling is heard. It's coming from one of the barrels!
	Juro grips his katana convulsively, then winces at the pain radiating from his wrist. Ignoring it for the moment, he steps sideways into guard position, trying to pinpoint the sound from the new location. 
	Turning towards the barrels, and straining to discern which of them the sound is coming from, Gokuu slowly, reflexively, draws his bokken as a frown creases his face. 
	It is the re-inforced barrel, of course. 
	The small crane walks over, gently laying Koroai aside on the way. No sign of cracking or chance of it tipping over. Good.
	Releived, the Yorikis return to their assigned task and Tokomo asks, "Daidoji-san, I apologize, I seem to have forgotten your name, may I ask exactly what is in the barrel that seems to be making everyone nervous ?"
	Juro turns away from the object in question, "Magistrate. My experience is lacking, but I believe it is called a Pennaggolan... or the head and entrails of one since there has been no trace of a body."
	"Hmmm, one of those... Is there any one missing from the village? Has there been a roll call done yet this morning?"
	"None have been reported, Magistrate, but I don't believe a thorough search has been conducted... Should I see to it ?"
	"Yes it should be done. Have a roll call. This should be treated like the disaster it is. The villagers are right to fear things of this kind. Juro-san if you could collect some torches for us so that we may be armed against potential attack, the creature does not like fire." 
	Juro bows, "I will have the etas build a fire outside and carry the barrel to it."
	"Have the villagers build the fire, they are more fitting to the natural order to aid in the destruction of the damned. They can find someone fitting to carry the barrel."
	Yahura considers the barrel in question, with its shadowland tainted occupant. "If I may offer a suggestion? Buring the barrel seems risky. Recall that the creature is contained in fluid, and thus is unlikely to be burned before the barrel itself gives way. When the wood breaks, the fluids rushing forth may dampen the fire enough to allow the creature to escape... However, assuming the beast is truly tainted of the Shadowlands, I have a plan that might work even better. I possess a spell that makes such being burn with a holy fire, consuming them. It is a ward against evil, and one which the trapped monster could not escape."
	Tokomo smiles at this, "While I would hardly object to you being prepared with a back up plan, I have spent some time watching my Hiruma cousins at their main work.  If we build the fire up and around the barel, when it begins to burn through the liquid will pour to the ground while the flames, and the creature, are left high to burn brightly! I suggest you continue with your questions of my once-cousin.  We will not start the festivities until you are done."
	Yahura nods and gives him a slight bow. "An excellent suggestion. As I see my yorikis have finished preparing the kitchen, I will be about my own work." With that she heads for the small room where the prisoner awaits her attentions.
	Juro, free to talk now that the magistrates have finished discussing the matter, "If I may, I believe the worker who re-inforced the barrel has a drill..."
	"That would indeed be handy. We can drain the liquid inside early. It is nice to see a Daidoji with a practical head on him. It is an honor to your clan."
	The young Crane's face twitches slightly at the "compliment" (fatigue taking its toll on his control, apparently). Still, he manages a fairly elegant bow as he takes his leave. 

	Daidoji Juro slips into straw sandals and makes his way around the large puddle to the headman's house, Koroai in hand. 'A troublesome vow it is... as it should be.'
	After the headman's greeting, "Headman-san, you'll be pleased to know that the Magistrates have arrived safely and are now handling the situation. I'm sure they would've greeted you themselves, but for the urgency of their business... They do convey the hope that no other unfortunate events have befallen the members of your fair village. In their concern, they wonder if it would be possible for someone to visit each villager and confirm his continued well being."
	"It will be done at once", says the headman bowing deep.
	"I expected no less dedication from you, headman-san... I have also been informed that we may have to cleanse the taint of the creature with purifying fire. Such a ceremony would require people of strong will, in harmony with their ancestors and the surrounding kami... Eight is favored in such things, I believe..."
	"That would then be you honored samurais and some of us!", says the man after a moment of thinking.
	"Perhaps eight from the village and eight from outside ? Their first task would be to gather wood from the wood-pile of each house, building a fire in front of the inn... The etas would, of course, be needed to carry the creature to the flames... and a drill to let the vinegar out."
	"Yes, our people will carry the wood from all the houses and by the way check if all inhabitants are still there! Right?", he nods, happy with this solution.
	The headman's simple rejoicing brings a small smile to Juro's lips, "It would be most efficient, Headman-san. Please report anything of notice to me as soon as you can as I must return to the Magistrate's side." The young Crane bows and quietly exits, returning to the inn.

	Gokuu stands out front, apparently waiting. Juro nods and says, "They should be here soon."
	Nodding back, Gokuu replies: "The sooner the better, I would say. I've found a patch of empty ground where a sizeable fire could be built without risk of having it spread to the rest of the village. I will stay out here and get the villagers organised until the honourable magistrate is free to provide instructions on the appropriate way to build this fire."
	The Crane nods once more before entering the inn proper... only to exit a moment later, trailing behind Tokomo.
	Gokuu bows to the Crab magistrate and lets him know about the division of labour. Tokomo directs the villagers on how to build the fire (and has them find some eta to move the barrel), leaving one side of the barrel exposed.
	Listening to the magistrates instructions carefully, Gokuu looks to Juro: "Shall we, then, make sure the honourable magistrate's instructions are carried out properly?", he asks mostly rhetorically as he moves to make sure that the villagers are doing as instructed.
	Not too interrested in the work itself once he is sure it will be done correctly, the Crab Magistrate turns his attention towards the barrel, "Filthy beast would you rather be burned slowly or tell us why you're here? Knock once for burn twice for speak."
	There is only a bubbling sound. It seems there's liquid in the barrel.
	"Did this merchant bring you here?" Two knocks.
	"Were both of you sent?" Nothing can be heard...
	"Are their more of your group nearby?"...still nothing.
	Tokomo instructs the worker, recently arrived and waiting with the requested tool in hand, to drill a small hole in the bottom of the barrel and then waits for the barrel to drain. Afterwards he takes a small piece of the tinder, lights it, and sticks it into the hole, asking once more, "Are there more of you?"
	A high pitched cry comes out of the barrel, going on and on. It does not stop.
	Juro grits his teeth against the sound, though he notes the thing's vulnerability to even the slightest heat with somber satisfaction. Then the young man frowns, sinking into thoughts of his own.
	"Stupid creature," says Tokomo as he throws the tinder into the pyre to ignite it.
	The scream gets louder as the barrel catches fire. After some time, only the crackling of the fire can be heard.


Chapter 4 - Windblown ashes part 2

	"Well, my friend." begins Yahura. "It seems we have some time to talk now. But I know that you do not wish to speak to me. This is understandable. Therefore, we shall not speak for the space of one hundred heartbeats, during which time I will demonstrate some of the things my father taught me about bamboo and the human body. After those one hundred heartbearts, you will have the opportunity to speak once more... Let us begin." 
	The Yasuki sits there his fists closed tightly.
	Yahura smiles at the prisoners stoicism, and examines her bamboo shoots with a trained eye. Finally, she selects several of them, and still smiling, moves over to begin practicing her fathers trade.
	The Yasuki breaks in the first round of applied torture. During the one hundred heartbeats he tries to stop the pain by just crying out words. The words are: "Victim.... Maho tsukai....... powerful enemies...... helpful creatures of darkness..... corrupt magistrates" and a load of calling his torturer names. Yahura continues her work until the one hundredth heartbeat, not a stroke more nor less. Then she pauses, letting the prisoner rest, and ponders his words.
	After a few moments, she turns back to him. "Now then. Let us go into more detail about what you have told me. Who is the Maho Tsukai you mentioned? What is his name? Tell me what I wish to know, and the pain need never come again."
	He sits there, tired- fatigue in his eyes. "It is not one Maho-tsukai, but many. Too many to beat them and even if I would tell you the names of the ones which I know, it would be nothing compared to the total size." He seems to be regaining his pride rather quickly.
	Yahura nods and says "Then tell me the ones you know, and the problem of dealing with them will be for us. Surely no greater revenge could you have against me than to turn me against such powerful and implacable foes. Tell me their names."
	Angry he looks at his torturer, seeing that there is no escape, no decision for him. "We are a tiny commune in a village called 'Lord Moon´s rest'. It consist of five people including me. Then there is the smith Toshi, the li...." He stops suddenly and starts to cough. He bends forward chocking. Something seems to block his mouth. He spits it out and Yahura-san notices that it's a human tongue. Shock spreads on the merchant's face as blood drips out of his mouth.
	Yahura's eyes widen slightly. She leans forward and seizes the man's face firmly, forcing his mouth open with her thumbs. Through the blood she confirms what she feared : her prisoner has lost his ability to communicate. 
	She shakes her head in silent appreciation of the efficiency with which these maho keep their secrets. The Scorpions have no need of such things, but still, it was a wonderful way to insure secrecy.
	Leaving her prisoner to bleed, she heads back out into the main room, and goes looking for the Crab magistrate, to inform him of what she has learned.

	"I assume that he can still communicate with nods?" inquires Tokomo when he's heard his fellow Magistrate's story.
	"The prisoner can still nod, assuming he does not bleed to death, of course." says Yahura in response.
	"Then we should bring him along he can lead us back to the camp"
	"I shall attend to this matter." With that, she turns and heads back inside to check on the welfare of their hostage.
	Turning to the rest of the samurai, "From the information given, there is a camp somewhere. potentially nearby, where Maho-Tsuki gather. They must be purged for the glory of the Emperor. By the authority granted to me via my commission I request your attendance. I will dispatch messages to the Daimyo of this region as to my actions. He will of course make recompense to your lords for loss of service if that becomes necessary. Are there any that decline this invitation to serve the Emperor ?"
	Gokuu bows to the magistrate: "You honour me by allowing someone of my meager skill to participate in such a momentous undertaking, magistrate-san."
	Juro simply bows and then waits.
	Tokomo nods and says, "A samurai is never of meager skill, but it his duty to use that skill for the glory and protection of the empire." Tokomo gathers his stuff together and helps Yahura prepare the prisoner. He also gets a map of the local area and has the prisoner point out a destination.  
	The Yasuki just shakes his head and draws the kanji sign of the crab on the floor.
	Yahura smiles companionably at the Yasuki, and says, in a pleasant tone "I pray that you have not chosen to become intractable again. It pains me to have to harm you. Please look at the map again, and try to point out where the village you spoke of is located."
	"He may be indicating that the camp is further away heading towards Crab lands, is that true traitor?"
	The Yasuki nods a little bit and then points in the middle of the Kanji sign.
	Yahura nods. "Do we have a map of the Crab lands? If not, we will have to have him guide us there himself." She looks down on the drawing in the sand the prisoner has made, and smiles. "Well, Tokomo, it would appear this investigation will take us much closer to your home. There seems to be little choice in this matter. We must go to the Crab lands.
	"I would like to leave as quickly as possible, before our enemies can rally their forces against us. Any who wish to accompany us should be prepared to leave very soon." 
	Doji Kasumi bows. "Then, if you do not mind, I shall withdraw in order to prepare for the journey."
	Tokomo then dispatches letter's by peasant runner's to each of the assembled Samurai's lords addressing the situation. A final letter goes to Tokomo's daimyo asking for any assistance that might be provided by the witch hunters.  

	Juro's preparations consist of a letter to Doji Susume, apologizing for this inevitable delay and including the associated heartfelt regrets. 'This will cost us...' sighs the young man as he rises and walks to the Scorpion Magistrate (as she seems the least busy of the two) and bows, "Can I be of further use to the honorable Magistrates before we leave ?" 
	Yahura glances over at Juro and says "Yes, there is. In your opinion, is there any chance that this village hides further Shadowland beings, or that the villagers themselves have come to embrace the ways of Maho or the Shadowlands? It would be foolish to leave behind a potential nest of serpents to strike at the heels of the Empire."
	The wiry Crane ponders the matter, his dark eyes gliding accross the magistrate's porcelain complexion while he does so... "The local headman has been most helpful, Magistrate. He and the villagers are quite saddened by this death... Yet her wounds are not as mine... and there was the sound of flapping when we woke." He looks troubled, ghosts of questions formed in the night re-surfacing and dancing before him.
	Yahura considers the Crane's words, "Perhaps it would be wise to have word sent to the the Daimyo of this place that his village may be corrupted by the Shadowlands, and allow him to take whatever action he deems appropriate and honorable."
	Juro blinks once, "Fortunate then that we go to meet him."
	A small silence. "Was there anything else ?" she asks.
	A quiet wave towards the pile of ash left by the pyre, "I have heard of a Tori built on the very road we will travel..?"
	"I believe there *is* a Tori. Perhaps it would be wise to sanctify the unhholy remains there in the sight of the Fortunes."
	Juro bows. "If I may... would it be appropriate to burn the merchant's wares ? Provided the honorable Magistrates have no more use for them, of course."
	"It might be prudent to destroy his tainted goods. I asume they have been searched for any sign of Maho tools, as well as incriminating correspondence ?"
	"They have been searched, Magistrate, but not by someone who knew the dark arts other than through peasant stories." He bows his head apologeticaly.
	"Perhaps you could ask the Crab magistrate to look them over. His clan is well known for their knowledge of the Shadowlands."
	Slow bow, "Magistrate." Juro gathers the etas around him with a look and approaches Tokomo, "Honorable Magistrate ?" He then informs him of the situation.

	As Juro is talking with the Crab magistrate, Doji Kasumi enters again after preparing herself for the trip. She looks over the room, observing the etas, the blood, everything. She throws a glance down at her knife, closing her eyes and sighing slightly.
	  Gokuu, looking slightly bewildered, is standing unobstrusively to the side waiting patiently, lending a hand if asked or ordered to do so. Then, remembering something, he heads back inside and grabs the merchant's yari, examining it more closely, trying to see if there is anything distinctive about it. He asks Kasumi: "Is there anything special about this weapon, do you think? I suppose, in this situation, we can't afford to ignore any possibility."
	The small shugenja looks carefully at the weapon. "It might... best burn it either way, just to make sure."
	Gokuu nods in agreement and joins Juro as he piles what must be destroyed into a second pyre. The wood is lighted, flames start to lick and feed. The Samurai gather around it, starring into the fire until nothing is left but fine, fine ash.

                                        * * * * *

	In the morning the samurai leave the village. It is a pleasant day after the rainy evening the day before. The headman and the villagers are very happy that the entire matter seems to be settled with burning the merchant´s stuff. Of course they will pray to the fortunes, but at the moment Amateratsu's shining face has banned every fear of the night. Only the innkeeper is full grief for his lost daughter.
	Well, there is also another one not too happy and this is the Yasuki walking in front of the samurai. He is very silent the whole day and as the sun has reached her zenit and starts travelling down again, he suddenly falls to the ground. His eyes are wide and his body is shaking. With much effort he tries to breathe...
	Yahura steps forward to where the Yasuki lies. She kneels down and turns him on his back to see what is distressing him. She attempts to see if his breathing is blocked by something. Stepping forward, Gokuu also kneels and, bowing respectfully, says: "Honourable magistrates, I have some knowledge of the healing arts. Perhaps I can help." They find no poison dart in his body and there is nothing in his breathing ways.
	Juro ponders the matter, trying to remember stories that would help. "If I may, I believe he may be cursed from afar... or it may be he strayed from the paths previous *engagements* allowed him. In which case moving him back might be beneficial to his health... I think."
	Yahura nods. "perhaps this is so. Let us move him back a ways, to see if his condition improves." She motions to her two yojimbo to move the Yasuki back the require distance to see how he reacts.
	The yojimbos do as they were told. The noisy breathtaking stops. Then, the two man drop the Yasuki all in a sudden. "He is dead", they say with a disgusted look on their faces.
	Yahura nods, her features composed.  "We have gained what we could from him, then. We will have to present our daimyo with what we have, without the prisoner. Shall we continue ? I would like to arrive as soon as possible."
	Juro looks sadly on the dead man. Perhaps they could've done something else, perhaps his suggestion was flawed in some way... "Could not this magic that killed him lead us to those who unleashed it ? Perhaps the taint of such dark arts..." The young bushi sighs deeply, suddenly resigned to the loss.
	Yahura looks surprised for a moment, then nods. "An astute observation, samurai. If indeed the magic had been clean and pure, there might be a way for a shugenja to learn about it, by speaking to the spirits... I fear that this magic was Maho however, tainted and cursed by the dark One, and not of the Land at all. There is little chance we will learn anything from the local spirits, save that they are disgusted by the impure magic."
	Doji Kasumi looks at the dead merchant. With a slight silent nod, she agrees with the magistrate's reasoning. "Maybe the merchant was doomed from the moment that he was arrested. Someone might have killed him in order to prevent him from revealing his mission or goals," she says gently.
	Soshi Yahura considers the corpse. "I believe he was doomed from the moment he chose to give-in to the temptations of the Maho. This is all the peace he could ever hope to find. Perhaps he will make wiser choices in the next life."
	Daidoji Juro slowly nods in agreement.
	"Burn him," orders Tokomo, "by Hida I will punish those that have discraced my clan and I call on his name to guide me in finding that justice as is the duty of our clan!" 
	The two yojmbos look at Tokomo-san for a few moment then one says, "There is no eta nearby!"
	"Oh by all means I apologize. It would after all be far better to leave him for the beasts to devour. It would be unfortunate if the corpse walked away before that could happen and knocked on your master's door. Maybe then you could explain why you were unwilling to defend you master's future interests." with that Tokomo sets about looking for some wood to help the body burn.
	Addressing the yojimbos in a low, conciliatory tone, Juro says, "I believe the Magistrate intends to build the fire where the Yasuki fell and perhaps leave warning that travellers should step around this place. There should be no need to touch the body, yojimbo-sans."
	Understanding starts to gleem in the eyes of the yojimbos. "Yes, we will build a wood pile around the corpse." And they start collecting wood, together with Tokomo-san. As fire is set on the wood, there is a black color inside the crackling flames.
	The small Crane shugenja looks at the flames. "I did not know that the darkness of the soul colors fire itself," she says to the person next to her.
	Yahura nods grimly at the blaze, staying far enough way to avoid breathing in the tainted smoke. As the fire burns, she offers prayers of reconciliation to the Fire spirits forced to consume such unsavory fare.
	There is a sad expression on Gokuu's face as he watches the flame devour the corrupted remains of what once must have been a human being...
	Tokomo waits for the fires to die down and also mumble his own apologies. He then scatters the now sanctified ashes and resumes walking. Turning to the rest of the group, "We must continue even faster now lest this plot spread farther." 
	Gokuu follows the magistrate as the group departs again. "I wonder how we will be able to find the nest of vipers now," he muses softly, not seeming to notice he spoke aloud.


Chapter 5 - A new path 

	The group walks in silence and in silence are the rites of purification carried out and the ashes burried beneath the Torii. Finally they reach the house of Asahina Kitsunen. The guards greet them and let them pass. Immediatly they are brought to Asahina-sama. He is sitting on his dais and greets the samurai with a little bow.....
	Yahura returns the bow with an appropriately deep one of her own. She quietly awaits his command to speak, however long that command may be in coming.
	Upon being brought in the daimyô's presence, Gokuu, Kasumi and Juro immediately kneel and bow respectfully. They then wait patiently for the audience to proceed. Juro being perticularly glad Koroai is back in its sheath. The Daimyo might have been so impressed with a man willing to carry a naked blade into his castle that he would have him beheaded for his trouble... The young Crane silences those thoughts as the master of the house speaks. "So tell me then, what has happened in the village where I have send you ? I also see that you have found companions." says the daimyo.
	"A being of the Shadowlands was found there being transported by a Yasuki merchant. The merchant, the beast, and all his wares have been burnt to clean the taint. We wished to bring the merchant here for questioning but maho killed his tongue and then him. Before he died he indicated that Crab lands were the hiding place of the Maho-Tsukai. I have dispatched letters to my brethren to be on the lookout for this evil. I would like to compose a letter to my lord asking for permission to continue the search in Crab territory."
	Yahura nods her agreement with the Crab magistrate's assessment of the situation. "If we are to continue this investigation, it seems we must enter the Crab lands to try and root out the plague of maho that seems to have taken hold."
	Asahina-sama sits there for a few moments, thinking. Then he says, "I have to inform an Emerald Magistrate. I will send a note to the one nearby - Shiba Okito. He may have some questions to you and... perhaps he will assigns you this investigation. As long as this is not settled, you are my honoured guests." Then he turns to Gokuu-san, Kasumi-san and Juro-san, "What has you brought to the village and what was your involvement in this case?" He has a friendly, almost fatherly mien as he says that.
	Kasumi speaks up, still kneeling. "Ashahina-sama, I believe I can speak for all of us when I say that we have been given the honor of attending the Bon festival in Otosan Uchi by our respective families. We did little but detain the creature and the merchant until your magistrates arrived."
	Gokuu bows respectfully to the daimyô: "I believe my honourable companion here has quite succintly summarised the situation." Then he bows again, the young Crane on the other side matching his motion.
	"Well done," says the Daimyo. 

	Afterwards the samurai have time to bathe, eat and drink. After a long silence, Daidoji Juro begins, "The world is vast and I am but a simple samurai, yet I admit to being troubled. Some questions are dark to me, resting in places where my humble life experience does not shine... Why, for example, would someone wish to carry a -creature- in a barrel ?"
	"I suppose," says Gokuu, frowning in concentration, "that if you have some sort of nefarious plot requiring the presence of such a creature in the capital, that one more barrel in a merchant's set is unlikely to be noticed." Looking up, Gokuu cocks his head interrogatively: "He did say he was on his way to the capital when he tried to sell his cloth, didn't he?"
	Doji Kasumi sighs. "I believe he did. The cloth, quality regardless, was perhaps just a front for his vile deeds. Fortunes knows what his plans for the creature was." She looks down at the floor. "And that poor innkeeper's daughter was the victim of it." Kasumi grows silent after her last statement.
	The mention of the girl brings a sad look to Gokuu's face. "That sound we heard before finding the girl, was it really the creature from the barrel that made it, you think?"
	Kasumi blinks once, as if awoken from a daydream of sorts. "...No. If I recall correctly, the beast of the barrel did not have any wings, and a flapping sound is usually the result of winged creatures pressense. I fear there might some other beast around, although my knowledge in these matters is to small to be of any help," she says, the last sentance sounding almost like an apology.
	"My people know a great deal about the shadowlands" says Tokomo "but I can't think of what it was. It could simply have been a startled bird outside the inn."
	"Certainly a possibility, Magistrate." agrees Juro. "Though the sound did seem to come from inside..."
	Tokomo continues without taking notice, "Merchants crawl all over the place during festivals and it would be only logical to disguise the demon in a barrel."
	"Hai..." Agrees Juro. "However one wonders what can be done with such a thing that a dedicated person could not accomplish. Surely an assassin would be more discreet and I do not believe they can take over ones mind or cause massive casualties... some sort of tainting ceremony, perhaps ?"
	"What is of more concern to me is that we lost a prisoner and do not know where his accomplices are. This places the Empire at risk."
	"Was there not talk of a village, Magistrate ? Or do you suspect more... wordly helpers ?"
	"I suspect filth attracts filth. The thing spoke of others, yes a village, and a merchant will have a destination. I doubt he was handing the barrel over to an innocent. The problem is that it would be hard to know which handler at the destination would be the guilty party without someone who had seen him commiting a Crime."
	"If they are not under protection or powerful themselves-" Juro cuts that sentence short, surely the Magistrate had considered this. "Can the honorable Magistrate tell us of this destination ?"
	"They need not be under any sort of protection, just hard to find. As to the exact destination I believe the Crane Priestess took a look at the traveling papers, am I correct?"
	"There is very little information on these, Magistrate-san", says Gokuu as he pulls out the papers found in the merchant's things. "Perhaps the magistrate who actually signed the paper will be able to provide more information."
	"Perhaps," Tokomo continues, "but we will not be able to pursue that until word returns as to whether the investigation will be continued by us. I suggest you show this to the lord of this castle so that his decision might be more informed."

	A few days later, the Imperial Magistrates arrives at Asahina Kitsune´s castle and of course the samurai who were involved in the case are soon invited to tell their story again. Strangely enough the Magistrate, a Phoenyx, wants to speak with each of them alone.
	When Gokuu is called to his audience, he enters, kneels and bows deeply. After formal polite greetings have been exchanged and the Imperial Magistrate requests his version of the event, Gokuu begins: "Having been honoured with the task of representing my family at the Bon Festival in Otosan Uchi, I was travelling there when a downpour forced me to seek shelter in a local inn. There, I met Daidoji-san and Doji-san; there was also a Dragon and a Unicorn, whose names I apologise for being unable to recall. They chose to brave the elements and left."
	Daidoji Juro, "Then," a ripple of distaste travels accross his otherwise calm face, "the Yasuki entered with crates and barrels. After talking with the innkeeper, he came over to our table and sold me two armlengths of a wonderful blue fabric, most unusual in its deepness of hue and sheen. I burnt it after the incident, of course..." The young man's jaw twitches a bit at the remembered financial loss. It always happened, yet... "We settled to rest but where awakened by a woman's anguished cry shortly after midnight."
	Doji Kasumi, "And there was the flapping of wings as well, but it might have been the remains of a dream. I clothed myself quickly and went to investigate what could have caused such a scream. I found that Isawa-san and Daidoji-san had awoken as well." 
	Daidoji Juro, "We found the innkeeper's daughter in the kitchen. Her throat had been cut, not very cleanly at that. She was apparently surprised in her sleep."
	Doji Kasumi, "As we searched the area, the merchant and his assistants showed up, claiming to have been roused from their sleep by the scream also."
	Isawa Gokuu, "Questioning the merchant proved futile. He reacted in a very hostile manner to our questions, and proved most uncooperative."
	Daidoji Juro, "We were alerted by a noise and looked at the merchant's wares." A small tremor surfaces in the Crane's voice, quickly controled. "The creature - a penaggolan it is called, I believe - was in a barrel of vinegar. It... attacked us."
	Doji Kasumi, "While Daidoji-san fought the monster, the merchant attacked Isawa-san as his assistants charged at me. After a short melee, where the merchant had been subdued, Isawa-san and Daidoji-san joined forces against the creature."
	Juro raises his still bandaged wrists, "I could show you the wounds, Magistrate-sama ? They look like burns, most unlike the girl's throat."
	Isawa Gokuu, "We eventually overcame it, trapping it in its barrel once more. After the fight, I had the merchant tied up, but questioning him proved completely futile, and a search of his wares proved equally fruitless. I only found the following papers, giving his name and destination, and bearing a Crab magistrate's signature." continues Gokuu, handing said papers to the magistrate's secretary. 
	Gokuu then resumes: "While Doji-san and I stayed in the inn and tried to deal with the merchant, Daidoji-san arranged with the headman for workers to properly seal the barrel containing the creature, and for runners to inform the local magistrate of the event. We then spent a restless night."
	Doji Kasumi, "When the magistrates finally arrived they were very" Kasumi falls silent for a second, "courteous."
	Soshi Yahura, "We discovered the rest of these honorable samurai attempting to deal with a vampiric abomination that they had trapped within a barrel of vinegar. We interceded, and between the skills of all present, the foul thing was dispatched and the merchant who had brought it hence was questioned. He revealed that he worked for a group of maho, based in a Crab town. Alas, he was stricken by foul magic that caused his tongue to fall out before he could tell us more."
	Hida Tokomo, "We do believe the merchant was bound for the capitol and he carried rather expensive silks as a cover for his activities."
	Soshi Yahura, "We chose to bring the ashes of the beast with us when we returned to report to the honorable Asahina. We also brought the prisoner, but on the way, he was stricken dead by a foul magic. The ashes were properly buried with all due ritual, and we hurried promptly here, to make report."
	Juro settles back down, sadness blanketing his form. "As I tell it, it seems the beast was used to cover the crime of someone else. I don't know why I didn't see... It would have drunk her blood, would it not ? Instead of soaking the floor..."

	After these meetings, dinner is served. The Imperial magistrate seems to be a nice man. Then he calls the samurai together. He sits in his rooms. The written protocols of the samurai´s testimony in his hands. "The merchant did not mention the name of the village were the Maho-tsukai live?", he asks.
	Yahura replies, "Under questioning, the merchant mentioned a village called 'Lord Moon's Rest', and that his commune consisted of five members, including himself. But he was only able to name the smith Toshi before being struck dumb by black maho magic."
	Tokomo nods somberly, "Yes, the traitor to our family died before we could extract more information."
	The magistrate looks up again. "Of course we have to investigate this. I will choose you all to go and search for this village. Meanwhile I will go to the Isawa library and search for information there. You will get a dove, which will return to the library. This will make it easy to send me the information."
	"Your eminence, if I may," Tokomo interjects, "we are not armed with weapons appropriate to such a task, none of us even bears a simple token of Jade should we come in contact with dark corruptive forces. May we ask for your assistance in this manner? The dove likewise should be armed."
	"Yes, of course, you will be get equipment for this journey and some jade items will be included", he say looking friendly all around, if someone else might have a question.
	Doji Kasumi silently bows her response. Obediance to those superior.
	Gokuu bows deeply to the Imperial Magistrate: "I am deeply honoured that my humble self should be considered worthy of participation in such an important mission."
	The young Crane bows as well, his blue and white kimono scrapping the ground melodicaly, "Magistrate-sama, I am but a provincial samurai pulled by chance into a matter far above his own station. There is little doubt better, more experienced men - such as anyone under you would have to be - could serve you more fully. I would not want to bring clouds to the doorstep of your house..."
	The Imperial magistrate turns to Daidoji-san, "The fortunes have brought you into this matter and so I think it only fair if you can bring this to a good end."
	Juro bows again, "We can but travel the path of our fate." he states, a hint of sadness gliding into his words. The matter is settled.
	The magistrate nods, "Then prepare everything you need for the journey.In the next days you should get the jade items. Horses will be provided as well."

	After three days the samurais are again summoned to the Imperial Magistrate. He hands them over the traveling papers first. The papers indicate them as Imperial Yorikis under his power.
	Then he gives them the items, which will help the group to deal with the dark dangers. It is a jade sword, a crystal dagger and a ball like structure, with fine ornaments ciseled on it. The ball has the size of a man´s fist. "This item contains the blessing of our beloved mother Amateratsu", he explains. "No creature of darkness can stand or shining look. Once a day you can use it."
	Gokuu bows deeply. "You honour us greatly, Magistrate-sama."
	Yahura bows as well and says "Thank you, noble lord for these wondrous tools. We shall put them to good use, and return them to you when we have finished with them." She carefully picks up the ball-like item, examining it, and admiring its ezquisite craftsmanship. This is clearly a tool better suited to a wise shugenja like herself, rather than the blades which suit the strong warriors.
	Juro looks down on the emerald blade with curiosity (and maybe a touch of envy), but then declares "Such a fine instrument surely belongs with one who has fought the dark before, would you not agree Hida-san ?"
	Tokomo accepts the blade, "I will use it well against the forces arayed against us."
	Juro continues, "As for the dagger, Doji-san proved most competent in its use and its crystal clarity can only pale compared to her own." Small bow in the woman's direction.
	Kasumi, without any major facial movements, returns the bow, smiling a slight smile towards the only other Crane in the room. Still saying nothing.
	"All of you can also get a horse, if you want." adds the Magistrate.
	"Thank-you for the offer, however I won't need a very fine steed. I prefer to walk as it helps to keep me in fighting form, however a pack-horse would be wonderful," Tokomo replies.
	Soon afterwards the group starts the journey towards the crab lands.


SCROLL 2 - IN CRAB LANDS

Chapter 1 - Arrival

	A guard station stands before the samurai: the day of arrival in the lands of the crab has come. Tokomo steps forward, delivers the group's papers while introducing himself. The guard reads and informs the magistrate.
	While they wait, Tokomo inquires, "We are looking for a small village where a relative was staying. It is called Lord Moon's Rest. Have you heard of it?"
	"No, sorry that I can´t be of any assistance, but perhaps it would be wise to travel to Kuni castle. There you may find an answer."
	"My companions and I appreciate your help," Tokomo replies as the papers come back. All of them can pass.
	"The fortunes guide your path."

	Once back on the road, Hida-san addresses the group, "Kuni castle seems like an acceptable course of action, what is your feeling on this?"
	Juro takes the time to consider the matter, looking at the Crab lands before him before speaking up, "As a river in spring, I must admit Hida-san. Surely the formidable Kuni would have disposed of this village if events occured before this. And if they didn't, I fear they would then have little reason to know of it." He pauses, translating unformed ideas into words, "I would respectfully suggest another course... All who exist under the Emperor's all-seeing eyes must pay tribute to his majesty in adequate amounts. I have heard of people who inscribe these amounts most carefully."
	Kasumi tears her eyes off the landscape (where she has been surveying for flowers). "I believe I have heard of such people as well," she says, her face emotionless but a smile in her voice.
	Gokuu looks from one fellow samurai to the other, a slightly puzzled look on his face. "I'm afraid I don't quite see how records of amounts are going to help us. I rather doubt that those we are looking for have been completely forthright in paying tribute to His Most Honoured Imperial Highness, or that they even provided real names in using any sort of amount."
	"I agree." says Tokomo. "I would hardly expect such a place to be found in any official tax records, I doubt minions of the Shadows believe they need to pay taxes to his Glorious Majesty. It is more probable that the village lies in rough country somewhere near the main Highway. I suggest we continue to Kuni lands and present our information. Their resources may be of help in narrowing down our search."
	"If the Kuni are closer." agrees Juro before nonetheless continuing to carefully press his own path, "My perhaps flawed understanding of such things would hint that a village is quite hard to conceal from those who watch, more so smoke and noise from a forge."
	Tokomo makes use of his cursory experience of battles, "I have heard of battles where entire armies were hidden from view one hill over with their camp fires blazing. I hardly think that a village hidden in a hard to find place would be that difficult to hide."
	"I quite agree, Hida-san." says Juro with a small smile. "To that, I can only add that one finds it is easier to hide when no-one knows you are hiding."
	"If anyone would have heard of rumors or stories it would be the Kuni. Sometimes all you need is one key, like the information we bring, to unlock the puzzle. The Kuni may use magic to spy out where the enemy hides, but they also use the information found by the servants of His Majesty."
	Juro nods, "Perhaps then a messenger to foresee their need while we proceed to meet the honored hunters ? Speed would seem to be of some importance." The young Crane looks at the unmounted Tokomo.
	"Messenger?", inquires Gokuu in a puzzled tone.
	"Asking that the information on this village, if any, be sent where we shall be, Isawa-san."
	"I thought," comments the young Phoenix, "that we were headed to where we might receive the information?"
	"The Kuni can, indeed, be very convincing, Isawa-san. But I beleive they leave such things as counting people and their dues to perhaps less 'qualified' individuals." If Kasumi thinks otherwise, she doesn't let it show. Instead, she just studies the surroundings.
	"Are you volunteering to deliver this message, Juro-san? We have little time to waste." says Tokomo.
	Daidoji-san replies cooly, "There are a few villages on our way. One would find better messengers there... Provided the scraps we seek are not in Kyuden Hida itself, in front of whose mighty gates this very road leads..?"
	After some consideration, the samurai decide they would go to nearby Hida castle first and then on to Shiro Kuni. They meet several crab units on the way, but are allowed to travel on unmolested. 

	Finally they arrive at Kyuden Hida. In the square, outside the castle proper, samurai of nearly every clan tirelessly sharpen their skills in the ancient arts of war. Two guards in heavy armor are protecting the gate. 
	Soshi Yahura stands back, watching the clan samurai training outside the walls. Several clans seemed to be represented. No doubt coming to seek some audience with a Crab official. They might be kept waiting for quite some time, if the Crabs were as unconcerned with etiquette as they always had been. Stone walls may shatter under the weight of time, rivers change their courses, but the Crab, they would never change... She waits for their own member of that intractable family to lead the way. Scorpions were not well loved in Crab lands.
	"We request audience with the chief witch-hunter." begins Tokomo. "I have information that I must review with him. We have brought evidence from Crane lands as to an incursion. The Crane have given us permission to travel through their lands as we conduct this investigation as Yorikis to an Imperial Magistrate, for which I have received permission from my Most Esteemed and Honorable Lord."
	Daidoji begins, but finaly remains quiet. It made sense to see one in charge before going down the ladder of rank, towards the records. He had lived too long among peasants to even consider otherwise.
	  The guards bow before the group and then one of them brings them into the castle (after checking papers and sigil). There the samurai are handed over to another guard, who brings them to another Imperial Magistrate, named Shiba Hokitare. He greets them and invites them to a cup of tea. "What brings you here, honorable collegues", he says taking a sip of the tea.
	"We  have intercepted a Maho practicer who claimed that a group of Maho-Tsuki were gathering in a village called 'Lord Moon's Rest'." says Tokomo. "We believe that the village lies in Crab lands due to a partial map that we discovered. Have you heard of such a place?"
	The Imperial Magistrate thinks for a few moments. As he does, Kasumi sips her tea silently, grateful for this oasis of civilisation in the Hida castle, waiting for the response to the question. Then it comes, "Yes, there is a little village called like this. I remember it because as I travelled the lands of the Crab, I got sick and spend a few days there. Very nice people...."
	Juro looks up sharply at the news, maintaining just enough control to stop the head from following the eyes. Then he sits frozen in tense watchfulness of their gracious host, dark thoughts swirling about him.
	So seeing, Yahura smiles behind her mask. The prey is in sight. Once more her skills will be needed to reveal the truth behind the mask of lies.
	Kasumi would like to raise her eyebrows at the news, but refrains from doing so, the magistrate's words troubling her more than she cared to show.
	Tokomo sneers with distaste, apparently unaware of anything amiss, "Nice would hardly be an appropriate description if these reports are true. Has the village run into any trouble before? Do you know where it is located?"
	The magistrates answers, "Well, the people were nice there. When we have an incursion, then I did not meet this people. You do not believe that all of the village are Maho tsukai?". He looks at all of you.
	Gokuu's face creases into a reflexive frown at the magistrate's statements and question, but he says nothing.
	Tokomo continues, non-pulsed, "You well know that taint, once it infects the heart of the village, can spread rapidly. Peasants do not have a very strong spirit. They can not easily resist the powers of the Shadowlands. That is why we, the first children of the Kami exist with such power."
	Juro nods slowly at this and quietly mixes himself into the conversation, "Though when the Taint entered this unfortunate village remains unknown to us, Magistrate-sama. No doubt it would not have escaped the sharp notice of one... faithfully serving the Emperor as magistrate in the land of the Wall. Indeed, with the time of your stay in our possession, we can now remove all blame from any that may have left before you yourself continued on your journey."
	"Hai, this is possible, that after I left the incursion began, so could not notice it", says the magistrate nodding. "But a month is not a very long timespan. However," he says shaking shortly his head "we have to put an end on this -Quickly. And I still know where this village lies. It is at the beginning of the Yugure mountains"
	A quick glance with a raised eyebrow towards Tokomo betrays Gokuu's ignorance of the mountains in question, but he doesn't actually speak.
	"Since you are familiar with the area would you travel with us there?"
	'A Crab remains a Crab', thinks the male Crane, rather shocked at Tokomo's approach. A blow to the plexus of proper ettiquette.
	"Unfortunatly, I can not travel with you, but I can give you one of my yorikis as a guide."
	Yahura stands to the side, smiling, as she watches the Crab deal bluntly with his fellow. There is something to be said for the hammer blows of Crab etiquette. At the least, they will have a guide to the village.
	If Kasumi is surprised at the Crab's directness, she doesn't let it show, instead bowing in silent acceptance to the magistrate's offer while she in reality cannot wait to get out of the formal meeting and into a warm bath. The thought that their hosts might not offer one has not yet occurred to her.
	"That is acceptable."
	Gokuu bows to the magistrate in thanks, then straightens and waits to be dismissed.
	"When do you want to leave?", asks the magistrate. You see his servant  entering the scene, ready to make any preparation.
	"Is he ready to leave right now? Any moment we waste is a moment the enemy has to prepare. We must crush them *before* they have a chance to respond." 

	And so the group meets their guide one hour later, knowing that there are many nights without a bed before them. She is a rather young samurai-ko, her hair open and falling to her shoulders. A beautiful face can be seen behind her determined mien. She bows before the group and introduces herself as Shiba Satako.
	Kasumi bows, introducing herself to the best of her schooling, and the others follow suit.        
	The guide says, "Honored samurai, it would be best if we walk to the next village. There we might find shelter for the night. If we start right now, we can manage the trip in five hours."
	"Very well, we shall be on our way," Tokomo responds, "That will give us time to wash and catch a bit of sleep before continuing on at sunrise tomorrow."
	Doji Kasumi looks to her companions, her head slightly tilted to the side,   as if pondering the question. Then she nods, smiling slightly.
	"It could be said that four legs travel more swiftly than two." Juro's gaze slowly turns towards the Crab in their party.
	Tokomo, looking as innocent as the world, responds, "Palanquins shouldn't be used in time of war," 
	"In mountainous terrain," Gokuu muses, "the gain in speed may be negligible, if there is one at all. However, it would be less tiring than walking ourselves. But I shall defer to the greater knowledge of those whose lands we are in." he concludes.
	"I don't much care how we get there as long as we do"
	Soshi Yahura says "Our feet should suffice. There is no need for grand entrances. Our cause would be better served if we entered the villages quietly, and left as shadows."
	The male Crane bows, gracefully aknowledging his defeat.
	"Good", says the guide and bows before turning around. She starts at a quick pace and the group finds it difficult to follow her. She is really quick on her two legs....
	The only Doji in the groups tries to keep up as best as she can, apparently  having trouble keeping up with her taller companions, especially the fast Phoenix. If this means any added discomfort, she doesn't let it on.
	Juro keeps pace with Doji-san's, actualy slowing down by imperceptible degrees as the treck progresses. Their guide waits each time the distance becomes too large, but she is really pressing and the gap grows steadily. 
	Juro has to trust the wind will do the rest, brushing his words away from unwanted ears. "I am... uneasy, I will admit. With each step we grow closer to what we must face, yet..." He  stirs emty air with an open hand, unable to find exactly what he wishes to say.
	Kasumi looks at Juro as they walk after the group. "Not feeling uneasy when approaching an enemy of unknown strenght would be foolish," she says, keeping her voice low.
	Slow nods, sorely lacking in conviction, followed by a thoughtful silence... "This feeling I feel, it... is not unlike a small drowning, walking without purchase on a floor that isn't there." He smiles a small smile, looking briefly to Gokuu nearby. "It seems I cannot let myself drift to the will of the Kami."
	Kasumi fights the impulse to shiver at the mentioning of drowning. Instead, she nods to Juro's words. Finally finding the right words, she opens her mouth to speak, only to find that their guide has stopped again, looking in each direction.... This is not one of her normal stops. 
	The shugenja closes her mouth and instead places her hand on Juro's forearm, nodding slightly. His own steps come to a halt; hands drift towards his waist, feet planted firmly, eyes calmly roving. "Shiba-san?"
	She does not answer, but looks on the grass which lines the way.
	Gokuu takes a few deep breaths, using his sleeve to wipe some of the sweat on his brow, then that brow creases as he realises this isn't simply a stop to allow him to catch up, and he too looks at his surroundings more carefully.
	There! A broken yari, drops of blood splattered around it. The grass... these might be traces of a fight. From the bloody clearing, a little path of bent grass snakes away. It looks like something was dragged away, something heavy and unresisting.
	"Somehow," Gokuu muses, with a sad look on his face, "I do not think it is  coincidence that this lies along our path. Shall we investigate?" He looks at his Crab colleague as he asks.
	Juro's scratched blade hisses softly as it leaves it's sheath, his words barely louder, "They say crows sometimes cry out like wounded men, luring travellers away from safer paths... Yet who can ignore a cry for help?"
	"Indeed, this may be nothing more but a means of slowing us down," Tokomo turns his attention to the guide, "How much further till our stop, and how much further till the Moon's Rest?"
	The samurai-ko turns to answer, but she is cut off by a sharp word from the Crane bushi. "There is trouble, Shiba-san." Indeed, a little band of goblins is emerging from the tall grass behind her, coming towards the party. 
	A few steps carry Juro past their guide, to face what is coming. There he stops, drawing strength from his family sword, strength enough to master the trembling of his voice (he hopes), "You step on the Emperor's land, goblin-chan! Surely your heads shall leave their bodies this day!"
	Doji Kasumi, shocked by the appearance of creatures of the Shadowlands on this side of the wall, moves to pull out a scroll from its case, as does Yahura with one of her own.
	The goblins chitter among themselves. As they approach it can be seen that this band consists of five individuals. Two of them carry rather new armor and katanas. All of them look well fed. With a loud and shrill battlecry, they charge.
	"So it shall be." His stance firm, the young Crane is a cliff standing in the path of onrushing evil... Then, unexpectedly, the cliff topples forward, a step taking Juro inside the swing of his adversaries. Koroai blurs, slashing at mishappen faces below overhanging helmets, and cuts deep into green flesh. The little creature cries out in pain as blood splatters out of his open shoulder. It will surely die in a few moments.
	Tokomo takes his previously unslung Tetsubo and plows into the goblins from the side, making low sweeping arcs. Trying to mow them down like wheat before the blade. Impact! Followed by a short lived blubbering sound out of what was once a goblinoid face. 
	The nearby goblins recoil out of harms way... Most of them anyway. One is jumping up and down in excitement, apparently not knowing whom to attack. 
	That decision is made for him when Gokuu steps forward, swinging his bokken in a strong downward arc. The goblin stops, his eyes widening in fear, but his reflexes are functioning. He swings his own Katana rather wildly. It finds its target, slicing through Gokuu's kimonosleeve, penetrating skin and flesh. "FOR MY MASTER!", it cries. The battle cry almost immediatly distorts into a shriek of pain as Gokuu's bokken hits its chest, breaking a few ribs there. Gokuu steadies himself. It is not a deep wound, still, it bleeds. 
	Yahura draws forth a scroll from her case, as she steps back behind the protective line of warriors. Calling upon the spirits of the Air so beloved of her clan, she makes prayers designed to call harrassing spirits to plague her foes. She senses a kind of... resistance from the air kamis. 
	Meanwhile Kasumi has begun a soft, low-key chant. She also senses this... resistance, this strange behavior of Air.
	Shiba-san, not troubled by the elements at the moment, attacks a goblin and cuts him into two parts. This brings the attention of the last goblin. With a battlecry he charges the Phoenix samurai-ko.
	Suddenly two spirits come out of the air. One flies over to the goblin attacking Gokuu-san and starts to circle it at high speed. Soon the goblin gets a dizzy look in his eyes. The second spirit attempts to lift Shiba-san and her goblin into the air, which results in a falling and crying goblin.
	Things are going well for the samurai, yet they suddenly hear the goblins crying out in ultimate joy, "The master, the master", they cry and suddenly the samurai feel tired. Kasumi-san´s hands suddenly become heavy - so heavy - and start sinking down, dragged by the weigh of her scroll. The writing on the scroll starts to blur before her eyes. Then all of them sink down to the earth. 
	The last thing they see is Shiba-san looking at them, puzzled.


Chapter 2 - Escape?

	Five sleeping bodies lie on the stone floor. The walls all around, also built of stone, are lit by an unseen source, casting no shadows. The only break in their surface is a door like the frontgates of castles and - of course - it is neither open nor unlocked. 
	Yahura wakes first and with a start, reaches up instinctively to where her mask should be. She feels it under her fingers and makes sure it covers her features.
	Gokuu's hand goes to his waist reflexively as he gets up, just as his mind clears enough for him to realise how unlikely it is that he'll find his bokken there. Then, sitting into proper seiza, he surveys the room briefly before beginning to medidate. His mind starts to relax, but suddenly a voice fills the relative silence:
	"Are there any wounded?" asks juro from where he too sits surveying the room. His dark eyes fall on the other Crane and he walks to her side, offering a hand should she wish to stand.
	After accustomizing her eyes to the relative darkness of the room, Kasumi  spots Juro's offered hand and gratefully accepts it, standing up. "I can only speak for myself and all damage I can claim is to my pride," she says, a slight smile playing on her lips.
	The smile is answered with a simple half-bow of acknowledgement, "Hai. The 'master' has much to answer for." Juro seems calmer for some reason, muscles more relaxed around the eyes and mouth. "At least they now hold Koroai. There is hope." Self-mocking amusement in those last words, mixed with hints of sadness. He could have said more, but the assembled samurai all jump to attention, as they hear a key turning in the lock. 
	In the room steps a man without weapons, but two other stand armed outside... Although the humanity of one of them is really a matter for debate. He is taller than the other guard (nearly two heads) and he is really pale. He has a nose like a beak and potruding cheekbones. Above them are eyes, shaped like the ones of monkeys. He matches the description of a gaijin!
	The man who entered looks at them and then says, "The master will see you in an hour. Please be patient. Do want to eat or drink?"
	Ignoring the man who entered, as well as his question, Gokuu takes the opportunity afforded by his entrance to catch a better glimpse of what lies beyond the now opened door. A simple corridor, disapointing. Gokuu turns his attention to the two guards but they too are unremarkably dressed. Simple, unmarked kimonos, even the gaijin, though the sleeves are kind of short for his long arms.
	Yahura shakes her head. "I thank you for your kind offer, but I require 
neither food nor drink." she says simply. Until she knows more about their benefactor, she decided to neither accept nor offer anything.
	Juro conviniently forgets to bow. "For myself, perhaps something to eat...  and some knowledge as well: Might we know the name and rank of our host?"
	"My master will introduce himself!" With that the man leaves. Only to return after a few minutes. He brings a plate of sashimi, rice and hot tea. There are cups for all of the "guests".
	The Crane bushi settles before it and smiles to the guards until they leave. The smile falls. Ignoring the edibles, he instead concentrates on the utensils. Picking up the chopsticks, he says "Perhaps we should excuse ourselves from this meeting..? I have read that humble field mice may pass through bars made to hold far bigger game."
	"And how, pray tell, do you suggest these humble field mice accomplish that?", asks Gokuu quielty.
	Even Gokuu was showing the strain it seemed. "Humble mice have much practice, it is true. Yet can we do nothing and still be called samurai? There are walls to be searched, blocks nearly loose or cracked from previous tenants; floors to be examined, an exit already dug below; and a door, strong but closed by a crude, easily fooled lock. Who can say without looking?" Juro bares his teeth ever so slightly, his cool exterior carried away by the flood of his own words, "Most of all, there is a master of dark things and gaijin. A master whose hand blocks the path of the Emperor's will! A master who took away our swords! Such cannot be forgiven."
	Kasumi listens to Juro small speech, hearing more words from him now than she ever had before. A small smile grows on her lips as she nods and walks to the nearest wall and begins looking and feeling at it, looking for signs of wearage so to speak.
	Juro looks to the other three, waiting, but they seem content to simply wait. He sniffs, "I will take the door." Chopsticks clasped in a fist, the Crane bushi stalks away. He carefully peers through the keyhole, then examines the chopsticks, then peers though some more before returning to his companions. "It can be opened, the Kami willing. Of more concerns are the guards: they are beyond the reach of the purely physical..." Juro looks to the women, shugenjas both.
	Kasumi looks away from "her" wall and bows silently to Juro, the way she slumps her shoulders speaking of how utterly useless she is without both knife and scrolls.
	Yahura gives Juro a slight smile and shakes her head. "The scrolls of my power are not here. There is little the Kami have to offer to those without the words to conjure them."
	Juro bows to both of them, an apology for a question that brought embarrassment. "Then there is the door." he whispers, gesturing his companions close. "It opens outwards and may yet crush what it now protects. I open, we all push and then there is always hot tea in their eyes and cups against their skulls." His face is grim on that last part. Tea against swords...
	Yahura smiles even wider, and says "And then defeat the outer guards, find our gear, and escape this place? It would seem wiser to wait and see what our 'host' desires of us, before we turn this into an even worse situation than it already is."
	From grim, Juro's expression smoothes to polite nothingness, "Well. Maybe you are right, Scorpion-san... What demands from the Foul One's emissary would you consider preferable to an honorable death?"
	Her mask reveals nothing of her emotions. She reponds "Indeed? I was not aware that we knew that these are the Foul Ones minions. Do you have unusual knowledge of the Dark Ones ways that would be useful to us, that you have picked him out so easily?"
	The Crane sighs in front of so much willful blindness, "The foul goblins cheered his arrival, Yahura-san. He then takes us here, a place where guards wear no mon and will not admit to their lord's name... What could he be except what I said he is? Certainly he is no samurai."
	Yahura says, "Much could have happened since we were rendered unconscious. I merely concil we exercise patience rather than impetuosity. But let me not deter you from your course, if you are set upon it, noble Crane."
	Satisfied, Juro addresses the group, "This master's action speak loudly enough: he is no rescuer and he is no friend to the Emperor. I say it is our duty to escape." He looks to each of them in turn, "Doji-san?"
	Kasumi considers it, surprised that her opinion even would be considered. "While these matters are not what I usually do," she says carefully, "I would hesitate to consider our captor to be a friend of the Emperor. Surely no loyal vassal to the Emperor would remove our scolls and equipment and house his guest in this manner?" With those words, she stops talking, looking around at her cellmates, hoping she wasn't too forward.
	"Indeed they would not." agrees Juro before facing the next in line, "Hida-san?"
	Hida-san sits there and looks at all of them," I would prefer if we trie to escape. Staying longer in this place of goblins and gaijins will taint us all".
	"Isawa-san?"
	Gokuu, who had been sitting silently, following the conversation, finally looks up and calmly says: "Be they, or be they not, minions of the Dark One, I agree that we can't simply let the affront of our imprisonment pass." He pauses for a second or two. "However, that does not mean we need to blindly try to rush out immediately, simply for the sake of doing something. There may be dishonour in doing nothing, but I don't see how being cut down in a failed escape attempt would consitute an honourable death."
	Daidoji-san smoothly inserts his own opinion, "Fighting against the dark ones is always honorable, Isawa-san. Odds do not figure into it."
	"Whomever this master is, he obviously doesn't intend to kill us. At least not yet. I would consider it prudent to bide our time a little and discover what we may of his plans as we await a more opportune time to make our escape. Doing so would also allow us to present a fuller report on the situation to our superiors, so that it can be dealt with in the most appropriate manner".
	"This I have heard from Soshi-san, and yet no answers as to how this time more opportune would come to pass beyond wishful thinking or what good knowing our unspeakable faith would do. More information is a fine thing, but it must be delivered to be of any use... and we are not empty handed as is: there is the location and the very existence of this place." The young Crane looks to Scorpion, Phoenix.
	Gokuu sighs, then calmly replies: "Odds were not my concern. But being ready to face death, as samurai, does not mean we have to throw ourselves into it either. As for a time more opportune, I would assume that we weren't kept alive merely to be forever locked in this room. Surely, sooner or later, we will be led out, and being outside should, I would expect, present better opportunities than does a single pair of chopsticks." He pauses for a heartbeat, then goes on, in the same calm tone: "Of course, if everyone else decides to try to break down a door with chopsticks, so to speak, I will do what I can to help. I fear, however, that I have not been trained in the art of unarmed combat. How about others?"
	"Enough bickering," Tokomo rumbles, "we leave this place, and we kill everything in it. But I agree on waiting, we will just kill the master when we are introduced... I have killed things with my bare hands before."
	Juro looks at the two with polite interrest, "An... interresting plan, Hida-san, Isawa-san, though one can't help wondering if guards tranfering prisoners will be surprised by exactly what they guard against. Their number should swell above two as well, one imagines. As for attacking in the most heavily guarded place of them all..." He let's that hang for a second, before concluding, "If the door doesn't open, then the door doesn't open."
	But the faces around him are not swayed by his words. "So be it." Juro walks to Kasumi's side, rather stiff of back, unrolls his obi and pools it on the ground so she does not have to sit on cold stone. He then sits by her, "Have you heard the story of Daidoji Kurota, Doji-san? I have been told it is of mild interrest..."

	After an hour, the samurai are brought under the guard of five men to the host of the castle. They are lead into a room with strange, foreign furniture - a desk with long legs and seats as high as the desk looking like thrones. The host is standing at the other side of the room - in the shadow, but they can see that he wears a long robe. "Welcome my guest", he says, and there is a strong accent in his words. "Please, take a seat", he points with one hand to the thrones.
	Yahura gives their host a short bow, not what one might give a daimyo, merely a greeting. She glances at the strange thrones, and makes her way over to the nearest one though she does not sit.
	"So, we are... 'Guests'?" asks Daidoji Juro from where he stands. In the folds of his obi are tiny weights, twin peices of wood traditionaly used for eating.
	"Yes, you are my guests and I have to apologize for the rude welcome, but I think I owe you some answers. So please sit down.", he says stepping from the shadow. It is a gaijin man, with blue eyes and a black beard. His hair is also black and falls to his shoulders in little waves. 
	Doji Kasumi awaits any signs of action from her fellow Crane or the Crab, not wishing to be seated if they suddenly were to meet out justice on the gaijin. She is also unsure of how to use these... odd wooden items the gaijin wishes them to sit on, but that she would not admit in front of him. 
	Her attitute is echoed by the others and Yahura steps forward, "The answers would be muchly appreciated. I fear we are unfamiliar with your gaijin devices for sitting, however. I would be more comfortable standing, if it is as one to you."
	"Please, take a seat, take a dinner with me. later I will explain", he says pointing to the table. He sits down.
	Juro's gaze drifts to the left - guards, five of them; then to the right - a silent if tense Crab... Yesterday (?) he told Doji-san of small drownings and inexistant floors. Now it seems even that traitorously inconsistant water has boiled away, leaving nothing to grab on to, nothing at all. 
	'I'm dead anyway,' comes the strangely dream-like thought, 'Why not try to fly?' Daidoji Juro steps up to the chair directly facing the strange man and sits. "I have always liked eels on rice."
	Kasumi sighes softly and resigns to fate, dining with an wrongdoer and to top it of, he would probably be crude and lacking in table manners. But she sat.
	The host folds his hand, happy that someone followed his invitation. 
	Gokuu's face briefly registers surprise as he sees two of his fellow samurai actually accept the strange foreigner's invitation. He then glances at his other two companions to see if they, too, will follow suit, then back again at the two who did sit down, his face betraying his hesitation as to what course of action to take as he continues to simply stand, without moving either towards or away from the chairs. 
	Yahura's expression is impossible to read behind her porcelain mask, but she makes no move to sit, nor does she partake of the gaijin's food. rather she waits with typical Scorpion patience for him to give her the answers she seeks.
	The man looks at the remaining standing guests and sighs. "Well, if you prefer, you can eat standing." His hand vanishes in his robes and returns with a bell. He rings it and some servants enter with plates of steaming rice, sushi, sashimi some steamed or grilled meat. All dishes known to them.  
	Tokomo waits until the host eats before he touches anything, being the suspiscious sort. It is doubtful that he would imprisson them only to poison them but it doesn't hurt to be careful. He also eyes the candelabras for approxiamate weight.
	With a sigh, Gokuu waits for the strange "host" to begin eating, then moves to the table and helps himself to a bowl of rice, reluctantly perching himself on the edge of one of the contraptions around the table. 
	Yahura does not eat. While the gaijin may indeed have excellent intentions, it is simply not in her nature to trust so readily. For all she knows, the food may be filled with some strange gaijin drug to which he is immune. Better that at least one of the group remain clear-headed. Better to offend than perish.
	So seeing, Juro leans to her, a strange (amused?) twinkle in his dark eyes, "Please, Soshi-san, we are guests after all. Surely your parents taught the importance of Polite behavior in courtly situations..?"
	"Yes, please sit down", says the gaijin man, "at least for a cup of tea. As an exchange, you can ask me one question and I will answer honestly", he smiles. 
	Tokomo sneers, "I do not bargain with those who illegally accost imperial agents."
	Kasumi declines any offers of food or drink. "I beg your forgiveness for not partaking of your kind offer of food," she says in her mild voice, "but I am currently fasting in order to atone for my shortcomings. I cannot accept any consumables until I have appeased my ancestors. I am sure you will understand." Her face is a mask of politeness, an art mastered early on. 
	Yahura's eyes twinkle behind her mask, and she gingerly sits on the strange gaijin device. "But very well. I will accept your offer. A cup of tea for one question answered honstly. I will ponder the question I wish to ask while we partake of your hospitality, with your kind permission?" 
	After a while the host asks the scorpion, "Do you have a question now?"
	"Not yet, noble host. Perhaps after you have informed us of why you have brough us here. I'm sure that you have your reasons, and we await your time to share them with us." Yahura said. 
	"Yes, of course", he says, "the prime reason why I have brought you to my place is because you are interfering with my plans to make Rokugan a better place". He waits and looks around.
	A puzzled look forms briefly on Gokuu's face, as he shakes his head slightly as though he had misheard.
	"How could you improve on the plans of the son of heaven?" Tokomo asks.
	"The son of Heaven", says the Gajin and there is a slight mockery in the sound, "is a mere regent, nothing heavenly on him I daresay. I know, that you will ask yourself, how I could achieve what he could not and with the help of vampires and goblins as well. The truth is they are sentient people as you and I and if you treat them correctly they act correctly." He lets his message sink in.
	Tokomo thinks on this a moment. And looks around for goblins.
	Yahura considered the words for a moment, no reaction showing on her face.  They were in the hands of a madman, of course, one who sought to unbalance the Celestial Order, a friend of goblins. Clearly a threat to the Emperor...
	"Certainly the ones we met have been most reasonable." says Juro, brushing the bandages on his wrists and remembering. The dream-like feeling he experienced is fadding, no doubt helped along by these uncomfortable seats. Most unfortunate. Clearly the gaijin is trying to get them to attack him for some reason that, no doubt, makes sense to gaijin. Juro looks to the others, waiting for the moment they felt they had learned what they had come here to learn. Then... then they could finaly get on with the business of dying an honorable death - taking the gaijin with them, of course. How unfortunate that Koroai could not be here to witness it.
	Gokuu gets up from the uncomfortable chair, takes a short step back and starts looking around the room once more. His look is shortened as Tokomo centers himself and yells as he hurls the table into his "host"! But the table is very heavy. The host has time to jump from his seat, followed by the plates and candelaber slidding after him.
	Tokomo then turns, picks up his chair and, using it as a crude club-and-shield, rushes the two guards. One of them cries out an alarm. Tokomo yells again as he swings the chair, something about "kill him while I...". His opponent saves himself from a nasty hit by stepping backwards and drawing his blade. But he is overeager and his own answering cut falls just short of the Crab's skin. 
	Doji Kasumi, skilled in many a thing but combat, steps back in full knowledge that she is out of her element.
	Gokuu grabs his chair and tosses it in the second guard's way. The chair swirls towards guard and directly into one of his knees! He does have kneeguards but the force of the blow is enough to make him stumble. 
	"For the Emperor!" shouts Juro as his own chair clatters behind him. He reaches back and extract the chopsticks concealed in his obi, weilding both of them in a single hand as he would a dagger. He takes the time for an urgent whisper ("Doji-san, the food!") and a stab towards it with a flicking motion going to the guards before charging the gaijin madman, the deadly chopsticks held high.
	Yahura sighs as her companions launch a sudden attack on the gaijin and his guards. Not exactly subtle, but what could one expect from non-Scorpions? She steps back from the fray, acting the confused and somewhat frightened innocent. That way when and if the guards overwhelm her unarmed comrades, at least she could barter for her freedom with the gaijin unhampered by having assaulted his person or property.
	But such careful considerations may be for naught as Juro-san is, incredibly, succeeding in his attack. The chopsticks come down and hit the master in the throat. The man makes a strange gurgling sound and grabs his neck as he sinks down to his knees.
	Despite the pain, the gajin raises his hand and immediatly the samurai are immobilized. There is nothing left, but the ability to listen. 
	The host looks sad. "Engrained, you are really engrained, not able to try to change your view of the world, the view of yourself. Your freedom. I will bring you away and I am not sure if you will not think that this is an insult. Let be assured, that I do not want to insult you, but I hate bloodshed. If it is unnecassary." 
	Again he makes some movements with his hands and there is a sudden, blinding flash. As dazzled vision clears again, the five are standing in a green valley. Their equipment lies to the side.


Chapter 3 - (3-11-01)

	Yahura stoops to grab up her gear, thankful to get her scrolls back, and quite impressed by the power of the gaijin wizard. She looks around to make sure her companions are unharmed, and shakes her head sadly at the lack of control on the part of certain samurais that has led them to this. Then she looks around to see if perhaps some indication of where they have been placed might be found.

	Juro suddenly finds himself stabbing earth. He too stands and looks around, though his gaze is on the others and not the scenery. "Would any care to say what was done that was, perhaps, not as free of imperfections as it should have been?" Clouds pass behind his eyes and his hand clenches rythmicly on the chopsticks.
	Doji Kasumi remains silent, downcast and seemingly not of the highest spirits. She looked around, at her companions and then down at the ground.
	The response doesn't even require thought, "absolutely nothing." says Tokomo.
	"Is it so? Then I fear Crab perfection may be too... hard on the teeth for the softer palates of the northern clans. Or is being saved by your ennemy the very thing a samurai should seek?"
	Doji Kasumi looks around at her companions, then sighs. Her eyes flash around, seeking answers to difficult questions and finally they fall on her knife. She goes to retreive it.
	"Perhaps," muses Gokuu, "we have underestimated the foreigner's abilities to use arts that I, for one, do not understand..." His voice trails off as he glances quizzically up at Kasumi and Yahura.
	Yahura's face is impassive, what little can be seen behind the mask she wears. "It is possible that attacking him in the midst of all his guards, and without weapons of any kind may have been somewhat less than completely prudent. Now we find ourself far from home, and bereft of the knowledge that could have been gained. I for one would be most anxious to find the gaijin once more and speak with him in civility."
	"Perhaps you have more than a passing interest in the taint?" Tokomo queries, "I on the other hand do not. We tried to serve the empire but failed. We must now make sure this taint is purged." Tokomo moves to begin searching for tracks, broken shrubery, scans horizon for nearby hills.
	Juro looks to the one, then the other, feeling the path of the conversation pass him by. "If I may? Failure is not a thing one should shrug away, much less ignore, Hida-san. To borrow of your bluntness, I fear we did not do all that could be done to assure failure was averted. Indeed, I fear we were more like oxens tied to the same cart but pulling all in different directions."

FINAL BREAK

----------------------------------------------------------
CHARACTERS

DM, "CMC" <a9100606@unet.univie.ac.at>

Daidoji Juro "Long-lived", Crane Bushi       "Frederic Fleury" <fred.fleury@mailcity.com>
Hair: black, in traditional samurai style
Ht: 5' 2' (1m55)
Wt: 140pounds
Skin: tanned.
Features: Daidoji Tattoo (L wrist)
	Summer heat, slight breeze. A man walks steadily along the trail, straw sandals kicking up puffs of dust at every step. His corded muscles speak of endurance and stamina; his badly scratched Katana speaks of better times. Once in a while, he stops, removes his wide peasant hat and mops the sweat from his shaven pate. 
 	He tops a small hill. Wind ruffling his blue and white kimono as he contemplates the scene below : a modest sized mansion before a wooded mountain... Daidoji Juro has come home.


Doji Kasumi, Crane Shugenja     "Kasumi Tendo" <kasumi_tendo@hotmail.com>
                                               <squidofevil@hotmail.com>
	As the birds sung to the glory of the rising sun, a small beautiful woman stepped of the trail and into the light forest.
	She sighed as she admired the elegance of the flowers in the small clearing, bending down to pick one. She straitened, holding a pretty flower in her right hand. Sniffing the flower, she returned to the trail and started following it again. 
	Some things in life are worth a dirty kimono.
Rings and Traits
   FIRE: 2         AIR: 3 
      Int: 3          Awareness: 4   
   EARTH: 2        WATER: 2   
   VOID: 2
Visible adv/disadv: Small, Bentens Blessing.


Hida Tokomo, Crab Bushi		"Nicholas Jost" <nickj@earthlink.net> 
	Yes the Crab's have ambassadors.  They are well known for smashing heads to get their way.  Tokomo is a master of getting his way.  He rose quickly through the diplomatic ranks to hold his current post.
	Tokomo is a low level ambassador to the Crane.  While with the Crane he has learned to respect their abilities as politicians and even more so, how they can use a sword.  He has been paying close attention to the techniques of those that he works with.  One day the Crab will use his knowledge to their advantage.
	His bluntness has earned him some meager respect from the Crane and harmed his relationship with the Scorpion when he stopped an assignation attempt by pointing out that the windows in a certain house were set all wrong for defensive purposes and the man hiding in one of them was proof of that.  The man was one of a group of scorpion assassins after a very minor Crane noble... They were to a man dispatched to join their ancestors.


Isawa Gokuu "understanding the Void", Phoenix Bushi "Tengu"<KarasuTengu@bigfoot.com>
	The sun would be rising in about an hour. Leaving his weapons aside, the samurai knelt in seiza, practicing his usual morning meditation. As the warmth of the rising sun flowed through his face, he opened his eyes and stood up. Feeling refreshed, he took his wakizashi and bokken, sliding them through his obi. Each day brought a new lesson... What would today's be?
	A man of average height, Isawa Gokuu wears his hair in the traditional samurai topknot. Two things make this otherwise unremarkable samurai stand out: he carries a bokken rather than a katana, and his eyes hint at a calmness beyond his years. His steady gaze gives the impression that he observes, but doesn't judge.
Rings and Traits 
   Fire: 2         Air: 3 
      Agility: 2      Reflexes: 3 
      Int: 3          Awareness: 3 
   Earth: 2        Water: 2 
      Stamina: 2      Strength: 2 
      Will: 2         Perception: 2 
   Void: 3
Skills 
Archery 2; Defense 3; Kenjutsu 3; Yarijutsu 1; Meditation 3; Shintao 3; Tea ceremony 1; Medicine 2


Soshi Yahura, Scorpion Shugenja		"Aran Hod" <Aranrhod@aol.com>
	She is willowy grace, cloaked in the black and red of her fine silk obi. Her eyes shine above the fine white porcelain mask that shrouds her features from the prying eyes of the world.  Her movements are careful and elegant, precise as the steps in a dance.  Although her mouth is hidden, her manner suggests she smiles.
	"I am Soshi Yahura.  My Clan is Scorpion, the hidden blade of the Emperor. To our friends, we are loyal and true, to our enemies, we are Death hidden in secret places.  Will you be my friend?"