Upon entering the palace, the rather zealous and somewhat impolite security would check Koroshi's papers, leading him through dark and labyrinthine corridors, pass countless doors that had no text on them in silence, though offering the Imperial the decorum his position warranted. The hallways were quiet, the executioners and truth-bringers still asleep, prisoners quiet, hoping that no-one would notice them.Eventually Koroshi would be led to a cast crimson door bearing a garish mon of crossed axes on it, the doshin pushing the door open even as he beckoned Imperial diplomat to enter the well-lit and exquisitely decorated room beyond.

Koroshi was largely cheerful this morning as he could wear his normal clothes once again. The Otomo had ditched the tweed suit for a gold and white striped jacket with a shimmering silvery inner shirt. His belt was green and black with little plastic studs to hold up his white and black checkered pants. He had put glitter in his hair generously.

The Otomo had remembered to bring the sword with him, which he held at his side careful to give the weapon the respect it deserved. And even though the doshin likely wouldn't talk back he had been speaking to them about the morning, his breakfast, and whether or not the air in the city was choked with smog. It did not bother him that they wouldn't reply.

Koroshi walked into the room with a smile on his face.

"Good morning, Otomo-san." a raspy voice belonging to a cadaver-like woman called out to Koroshi, offering him a low bow from behind her mahogany desk. "Please, come in." she waved her gloved hand, beckoning the Imperial shugenja closer. "One is called Soshi Haru. Lord Executioner of Kyuden Oboroshi, at your disposal, though not at your service." A wet, morbid chuckle followed the statement. "We are pleased you made yourself available. Please, take a seat." The same gloved hand pointed at the pillow that laid on the ground. "I hope Otomo-san has had his rice this morning."

"Soshi-san! It is most exciting to meet you on this fine morning. Grateful to make your acquaintance." Koroshi said bowing as proper before settling on the cushion with a flurry of fabric.

"I did have rice, and a small amount of cooked fish with some sauce. The sauce was unlabeled but I think that it was soy mixed with something else. Did Soshi-san also have food? And this one would like to ask if Soshi-san is feeling the most excellent and proper health. That rasp sounds unpleasant and if you are feeling ill, this one would recommend speaking to a doctor about accommodations that could still provide you with the opportunity to do your duties without negatively impacting your health." The Otomo said needlessly and cheerfully.

Haru frowned, as much a woman without a jaw could. Yet she did not bother to correct his assumption of her rank. "One found nourishment, yes, thank you." she replied with a dead-pan voice. "Inari is most gracious." Haru added, more or less wrapping up the formalities. His question regarding her health caused lord executioner to blink. "One cannot complain." her voice sounded like gravel crushed under geta."Jurojin seems to keep one, for the time being." Sighing - and sounding like a broken computer fan, she looked directly at the Otomo. "I understood there was an incident yesterday. Might we have the honor of having your testimony?" Haru reached for her densai, her gloved fingers dancing on its surface.

"This one will pray for your continued health, Soshi-san!" Koroshi inclined his head in her direction.

"But yes. You would like to hear about my evening?" The Otomo asked rhetorically as he proceeded to launch into his answer. "I was taking my evening walk and was making my way around the less tall parts of the city when I ended up at the barrier to the Desolation. I am not a big fan of skyscrapers you see. One must be able to see the sky to see the heavens!"

Small outburst finished Koroshi continued. "There was a very large, rather angry spirit beast. A gaki. Possibly of rage or something equally violent considering it was consuming the body of some poor person. It did not seem satisfied with that meal and howled at myself and a couple of samurai who were also passing the location. Oh, you might want to know what it looks like."

The Otomo spread his arms wide. "It was much larger than a bear with a shadowy dark body and claws like swords. Literally as long as a wakazashi, this one had the misfortune of finding that out up close. It had a skull for a head with flaming eyes and it produced an aura of shame? Fear? Something like when one is caught being dishonourable. It was also very, very fast."

He relaxed a bit getting to the part he had already told a few times. "Mirumoto Shigure-san, Yūrei-san, she is a ronin, and myself entered combat with the creature. It seemed rather unhappy with our continued existence. Or presence. Unsure, this one did not think to ask when the claws came out. Anyway, this one prayed to the fire kami, while Yūrei-san and Mirumoto-san shot at the beast until it stopped stabbing us. Myself and Mirumoto-san suffered some wounds but the Soshi priest at the guardtower was kind enough to purify and heal us up."

The Otomo put the sword in front of him for the Soshi to look at. "It fell apart once the body was damaged enough. This was within it. Note the mon, as well as the burns. This one's flames did not cause the saya to warp like that. I hope that Soshi-san can assist in having the sword returned to the family of its previous owner."

Koroshi paused and then added. "Also a sketchy ronin showed up seconds after the fight named Akuta who asked impertinent questions. And did not introduce himself until asked. This one wonders if the ronin was lying in wait, but this is a concern for Soshi-san. The ronin did not attack us or anything, so it is not a problem for myself."

"Otomo-san is kind as he is timely." Haru muttered, somewhat annoyed. "Evening, yes. Well, yes. Perhaps not an ideal place for a stroll, but I can see the argument, at lest." she added, her voice tortured even as her fingers poked the screen of her device in a rather urgent fashion "A gaki. How come you are so certain of that? One assumes Otomo-san has some training in the field, yes?"

"Yes, details would be very much appreciated..." she managed to mutter, focusing on her notes as Koroshi spoke again. "Bear, swords, large. Yes. Flaming eyes, skull." He could see her grimacing. "Sounds like a nasty son of bitch. With all due respect." Lord Executioner added, her voice still broken. "Spirits do tend to have that habit, yes. They do take offense to humans, yes. For reasons that are obvious, yes."

"Mhmhm, burned down, yes." Haru typed, taking notes even if the discussion was recorded. Notes could be used in court if needed, unlike recordings - and thus hand-written documents were crucially important in her line of work. "Excellent work, indeed. Also, on behalf of Governor General, most sincere condolences Otomo-san had to witness something like that. Alas, the region near the perimeter is known to be dangerous."

"Mmhmh. This city is full of wolves, they are rarely a cause for concern." There was a pause. "Our reports mentioned a sword. Would Otomo-san happen to have that with him?"

Tassu wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 4:01 pm

snip

"This one was trained by the Isawa, who consider their educational resources quite comprehensive." The Otomo answered.

Koroshi raised the sword in the Soshi's direction. "It is here, Soshi-san."

"Excellent." Haru took the blade in her hands, slowly stroking the burnt saya. "We have been looking for this for years. You have done us a great service, Otomo-san." she bowed as she murmured her thanks to the Imperial priest. "Your deeds will echo in eternity. Well, yours and those of Mirumoto-san." There had been two samurai present after all.

Laying the blade carefully on the table, she looked up to Koroshi. "On behalf of Lord Magistrate, allow me to extend his thanks as well. Bayushi-dono is unfortunately a busy man and cannot be present here himself." She added, her bloodshot eyes keen on Koroshi. "Might you remind me of the name of the wolf who was there with you? Not the one that showed up later."

________
OOC: Koroshi gains 0.3 Glory!

Tassu wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 20, 2022 6:43 pm

snip

"Soshi-san is aware of the owner's family then?" Koroshi asked as he watched her carefully. "The ronin Yūrei-san accompanied this one and Mirumoto-san."

"Yes. Most of the Scorpion in this city would be." she admitted enigmatically. "Yūrei-san, was it?" Haru muttered, poking her densai rather vigorously. "Excellent. This has been most helpful." she added, seeming actually rather pleased with the situation. "Now, if Otomo-san has no questions, one would wish Otomo-san a good day. I am sure Otomo-san is a busy person, yes?"

Tassu wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 9:52 am

snip

"Oh good, who is it? This one has sworn to see the sword returned to the family of the original wielder." Koroshi replied with an open smile. "If everyone knows then this should be easy to accomplish!"

"That mon and the sword would happen to belong to Bayushi Mineichi-sama. It was lost some six years ago." Haru explained, running her gloved hand over the saya. "Now the blade is finally home." There was a short pause. "Of course we must consecrate the blade - kami only knows where it has been." she added as if Koroshi hadn't thought about that himself. "Still, remarkable - that blade would survive outside ningen-do this well."

Tassu wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 21, 2022 4:21 pm

"That mon and the sword would happen to belong to Bayushi Mineichi-sama. It was lost some six years ago." Haru explained, running her gloved hand over the saya. "Now the blade is finally home." There was a short pause. "Of course we must consecrate the blade - kami only knows where it has been." she added as if Koroshi hadn't thought about that himself. "Still, remarkable - that blade would survive outside ningen-do this well."

"What?" Koroshi asked with a dumb look on his face that he scrubbed after a moment or two. "Oh, ok. That makes things easier then! But raises other questions about how it got where it did in the first place. But this is Bayushi-sama's business, and this one is certain their continued service in the Scorpion's name indicates the answers to such questions are all right and proper."

The Otomo paused. "This one hopes that the Lord Magistrate will continue to serve honorably. Please pass on that the Imperial Embassy's priority is and always will be the safety of the Emperor (long may he reign) and his family. Everything else remains a negotiation between the Scorpion and the ambassadors."

"As noted, the blade was lost, Otomo-san. Now it is found and can return to its rightful owner." Haru replied, sounding a little indignant. "Now, chances are that the media is going to be quiet about all this. Well, not about the monster. That will likely be covered in some detail." she gave her a knowing look. "If only to make sure people know better to stay indoors after dark. As for the blade, we will be relying on your discretion."

"One hopes Bayushi-sama continues to serve us all. Bayushi-sama has done the city many a service - we are blessed by his vigilance and the craven criminals speak in his name in fear. As it should be." she added. " Bayushi-sama is a devout servant of the throne, even if his service is often of unpleasant kind, just as mine. Yet, someone has to ensure that the laws and mandates are followed. Lest we become monsters ourselves."

Tassu wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 22, 2022 12:41 pm

"As noted, the blade was lost, Otomo-san. Now it is found and can return to its rightful owner." Haru replied, sounding a little indignant. "Now, chances are that the media is going to be quiet about all this. Well, not about the monster. That will likely be covered in some detail." she gave her a knowing look. "If only to make sure people know better to stay indoors after dark. As for the blade, we will be relying on your discretion."

"One hopes Bayushi-sama continues to serve us all. Bayushi-sama has done the city many a service - we are blessed by his vigilance and the craven criminals speak in his name in fear. As it should be." she added. " Bayushi-sama is a devout servant of the throne, even if his service is often of unpleasant kind, just as mine. Yet, someone has to ensure that the laws and mandates are followed. Lest we become monsters ourselves."

"Soshi-san, the blade was lost and ended up in a gaki. This is not normal." Koroshi said looking at her with an expression that suggested he would like to do something more than speak. "But the Lord Magistrate serves the Emperor, and it is dishonorable to put a slight on the name of an honorable samurai over unusual circumstances. No one has said anything to this one that would suggest Bayushi-sama is not diligent and fair in his duties. So how the sword got there and other mysteries will remain Bayushi-sama's to have."

"That would be our problem to sort out, would it not, Otomo-san?" Haru asked, slowly losing her temper. "It is not as if Bayushi-sama gave his blade to a spirit - nor do I think Otomo-san would want to suggest something as outrageous. I assume we are at concord?" she added, her voice raspy. "Either way, I am sure that Otomo-san is extremely busy man. With better things to do than ponder what might be."

"This one literally just said that Bayushi-sama's business will remain his own." Koroshi raised an eyebrow in her direction and stood up to give her a bow. "Fortunes carry you on your honorable work."

He would leave unless stopped.

/scene!