When Kanna entered the ambassador's office, she would find Akodo Hisakazu sitting behind his old and worn wooden desk, densai older than Kanna laying on his lap. The middle-age man was frowning as he chewed a gum, muttering slanderous and impolite words under his breath. The room stank of old sake and cigarette smoke - and empty ash tray on the table showing just how traditional Hisakazu was. Faint scent of incense mixed with the putrid stench of Ikoma tobacco, several sticks slowly burning on alter behind the ambassador's back, a picture of his deceased husband sitting between two small braziers.



"Good morning Kitsu-san. I am glad you could join me at such an early hour." Hisakazu yawned, lifting his hand to his mouth. "I hope you have had your rice this day?"

Kanna had the guise of someone who had woken up, broke fast, showered, dried up, and dressed up all in the last half an hour. So professional but missing the last touches of make-up and hair-combing she usually applied in the transport to work.

Bow and all.

"Good morning Akodo-sama.

Just did, thank you. Trying to keep true to Akodo's teachings of raising early as much as is possible on a world that lives by night."

"Excellent. No evil shall roam free as long as children of Akado remain vigilant!" Hisakazu grunted, nodding happily. "Well, besides on this hellhole. This hellhole is full of all sorts of sick deviants. But, I am sure you know that all too well at this point." His expression basically read 'Fuck Scorpion Seven Ways Sideways.'

"Please come in Kitsu-san, have a seat." he beckoned her closer. "There is some Spider nonsense we need to discuss."

Kanna sat as instructed.

"Did they send a request for a shrine to the Dark Fortune of War to be built in Lion territories or something like that? Wouldn't even be their most unsubtle provocation."

Hisakazu laughed, slapping his hand on the table hard, causing the former ambassador to scoot out from under the table, meowing in protest. "No, they sent this." he passed a slip of paper to Kanna. "I mean and actual letter. This day and age! Anyhow, what say you, Kitsu-san?"

Spider nonsense wrote:This letter concerns the actions of Kitsu Kanna of the Lion Clan, in an encounter with Susumu Yakumo of the Spider Clan.

Susumu Yakumo encountered Kitsu Kanna by chance in the Garden of Mists, and in their conversation, Kitsu Kanna stated that the Susumu Family are bound by an ancestral debt of honesty and that they are not dutiful servants in accordance of Bushido. Kitsu Kanna, when offered the chance to correct her words, stood by her words and claimed that this was in accordance with kharma and the Celestial Order.
Susumu Yakumo levied the challenge for the insult to be cleansed with blood, as she is a samurai of the Spider Clan and like all samurai seek to uphold and protect the honor of their Clan and Family.

The Spider always stand ready to back their words with steel and our champion for the duel has been chosen. The proper authorities will be alerted once you have done the same. Or we have Kitsu Kanna on her knees pleading for our forgiveness over these insults.

Kanna read the letter carefully. The paper was a nice touch really. Very traditional. The Susumu were competent courtiers. That wasn't where the issue was.

"Technically true I guess. I did discuss the fact that the edict of the Radiant Empress that made the Spider a Great Clan did not dismiss the other fact that the original Susumu was akin to an anti-paragon of Honesty, and that his spiritual descendants have to work off that karmic debt, the same way any honorable samurai has to atone for their ancestors' mistakes. I borrow my honor from my descendants as is said in Leadership.

Admittedly, I could have chosen my words better and I might be guilty of Failure of Courtesy here. You have my deepest apologies in that regard, and I'm ready for my punishment if you feel one is necessary. I stand by Sincerity and Honesty however.

I am not sure what they hope to achieve with this challenge – prove that Susumu never told a lie in his life or that generations of Susumu have been so proverbially honest that the debt is already clear? – but I'm only going for the second option if you order me to Akodo-sama."

"Kitsu-san? Did your parents raise a mewling kitten? Or a Lion?" Hisakazu asked, chiding Kanna. "The fuck you could have been more careful! As far as I am considered, you spoke the truth. As samurai should. Fuck courtesy. Words are as good as deed. I do not really care about this mewling Spider tramp." he snatched the letter from Kanna, shredding it in his hands, the pieces of paper falling on the table. "You are ready to stand behind your words, aren't you?" the old Lion asked, his tone now softer than before. "Now, should her champion triumph, I do expect Kitsu-san to apologize. But not before blood is drawn. Understood?"

Somehow it would appear Matsu Hide was indeed the most diplomatic Lion on planet.

"Certainly Akodo-sama. For when is the duel planned?"

"We do have to draft them a reply - if you would be so kind, Kitsu-san?" he tasked Kanna with the preparations of formal response. "Meanwhile, I'll let Manatsu know." Hisakazu referred to Matsu Manatsu, a Lion bushi known for both her skill at blade and her love of sake. "When she wakes up. Chances are that she isn't... presentable at the moment."

"I assume we can arrange this matter to be settled on the 22nd, unless the Spider are unreasonable. Or actually apologize as they should, but I have my doubts. Questions, Kitsu-san?"

"None that I can think of right now. This seems like a pretty straightforward affair.

There are a few technicalities of course, like to make sure Matsu-sama's victory is recorded and publicized. But nothing that isn't just business as usual."

"Very good! Now go and find yourself a hearty lunch, Kitsu-san!" Hisakazu dismissed the reporter. "We have both work to do. Carry the Fortunes!"