Glorified Treason (D7, LA)

[Susumu Yakumo]

Seeing what appeared to be unease on his behalf, or at least so she thought, Yakumo fell silent for a moment. Perhaps it would be rude to call attention to it...

Passing by another tree, she shuddered a bit at the personal possessions left to hang there, as it seemed to her like a piece of accessory might've been made by a child given the quality and look, and the thought of a child having to lose family this way just did not sit well with her...

"By the way, Miya-sama," she said, her voice cautious and low this time, in case the trees might overhear. "... there is no easy way to put this, but I want you to be aware that there could be dangers here in this district... outside of the usual dangers of politics. Dangers of a supernatural kind."

She looked at him to made sure he had heard her. "I just wanted you to know - so no harm comes to you from you simply being unaware."

[Miya Nishida]

With the new topic, Nishida could concentrate on his facade again. In fact, Yakumo brought up a topic that he himself was pursuing.

Also in a whisper, he said, "So you've heard about this, too? To be frank with you, I've been following some rumors about that for quite some time."

[Susumu Yakumo]

Rumors...?

Could this be something else tied into it, or did Nishida know something else. "You tell me what you know, and I'll do the same?" she offered, shifting her parasol slightly so that they were a bit more sheltered.

[Miya Nishida]

He cleared his throat, "Of course you didn't get this from me, but: some ronin and someone else from the Imperial Delegation pulled a cursed sword out of a gaki the other day. At first I thought the Yogo Mines were involved somehow, but they just treat their workers badly." he looked around the thorn forest a bit before continuing, "Also, they seem to have been doing genetic experiments on children in the Desolation."

[Susumu Yakumo]

There was no possible way to hide just how upset that last sentence made her. Sure he coulnd't see how her knuckles turned white as her grip tightened on the parasol, but by her body language she was visibly disturbed, even as she forced her expression to be as neutral as possible.

"Bastards..." she muttered, resisting the urge to kick a rock. Or something.

"There is a supernatural entity of sorts connected to one of our hosts - the Lord Magistrate. I am still trying to uncover the nature of it all, but it seems that it might be what killed his wife, and it is certainly not gone. My concern is that it puts the safety of the guests..." she continued in the hushed tones as before, often passing a glance to their surroundings.

"Hopefully a few leads will turn up with results today and tomorrow. I might have more to share on the subject in a few days time."

[Miya Nishida]

He watched Yakumo and let her act out her emotions, and looked surprised at the news about the magistrate, "Is that so? I haven't exchanged a word with him yet, this seems to be grim news. Why does the Scorpion let him live if he seems to be a danger to the general public?" he looked around a bit, just to be sure no one was evesdropping.

"If I also find out something I would let you know, maybe together we can solve this monstrous mystery?"

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I don't know. There is something going on, and I'm just worried it will put people at risk." At this point in time, a lot of the information was still being uncovered, or hadn't been shared with her yet. "If the mystery could be solved, and potentially be stopped before anyone can be harmed, that would be for the best, I think. As a member of the Imperial families, I believe you have the power and position to perhaps... smooth over misunderstandings that can come from such."

Because once Kuni got involved, keeping things on the down-low was probably hard.

[Miya Nishida]

"It would be ideal if everything would go off without bloodshed and without a big fuss, I agree with you." he nodded and didn't know himself how much power he really had here. He was not a simple samurai from the street and imperial, but no less than three ronin had warned him about the danger of the scorpion and that they also silenced influential people. "It would at least be in the interest of the empire to avoid great waves of indignation," he admitted.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Yes," she agreed, nodding once. The Spider was accustomed to doing what must be done, no matter the sacrifices and costs. And to some degree, Yakumo was no different there from the rest of her kin.

"I will keep you updated in the future, Miya-sama. Know that if there is anything you need help with, I am certain that me and my kin will stand ready."

[Miya Nishida]

He had to chuckle a bit at the situation, "Please forgive me Susumu-san, but the situation of an imperial crab and a spider trying to prevent bloodshed on a scorpion world together is a bit out of the normal picture, isn't it?"

He put himself together, "Albeit it may be the spark your looking for, the little hope that the clans can come together, to work towards a better empire, for all the clans"

[Susumu Yakumo]

"It is perhaps," she chuckled as well, "but hey, isn't all the stories we hear about unlikely allies coming together against a greater evil? The Thunders, the Starlight Miko Crusaders...?"

Of course she lumped mythical heroes in with the fictional ones.

[Miya Nishida]

"Forgetting oneself and serving the greater good is at the core of all samurai and their stories, isn't it?" he replied in a teacher-like manner, "Maybe we could actually make a difference," he said.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Mhm!" she nodded, agreeing with his sentiment. "Apart from a few bad apples, I'd say I've mostly met good samurai here, from the other clans. Even one of the Crab I have managed to find some common ground with, so... yeah, I think you're right, Miya-sama, that there is possibility in encouraging better cooperation between the clans."

"I think one of the keys is to learn to see the individuals, and who they are, instead of just going off on assumptions of what we have been told."

[Miya Nishida]

"A single flower in a field of corpses is cruelly beautiful" he replied, "But few dare to look for such a flower" he said, looking at Yakumo, "But perhaps I have found such a flower today".

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo brought a hand up to her face - a dainty gesture to conceal her mouth barely as she chuckled softly. "Have I made a poet out of you, Miya-sama? I'm flattered."

[Miya Nishida]

He smiled softly, "I just like to return compliments" he said pointing to the path they were walking on, "We still have a long way to go, but if we walk it together, maybe one day we will reach our goal" he said holding the peotic theme.

/fade to walking?
/scene?
^^;

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I believe it was Kakita himself who said to Lady Doji, in response to the trial she had given him to measure the width of the world; From only a moment of your company, I learned that the secret is in companionship, for that is the true measure of any journey." Yakumo said, more than happy to brighten the mood as they continued their walk through the rather dismal place.



/fade to walking!
/scene (thank you for a great scene )