[D7 MA] Is research just searching something you found and lost?

[Kuni Koyuki]

Coming down on Sakura's other side opposite Rei. Just close enough that her presence is quite noticeable Koyuki instills a privacy as she speaks softly and quietly, "Kaede. Bayushi Kaede's death. Tell us anything you can dig up about that."

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura simpl ynodded, and started pulling up the articles from around the time of death and what might have been written. The Soshi Inqurirer, Daily Prayer, Miya World News....whatever she could find.

OOC:
D7 MA Looking for Articles on Bayushi Kaede's death, TN15 | 6k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 15)

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Hm, minna-sama, I think I found a few useful things here." She turned the screen towards them:

Kaede was Mirumoto duelist, married to Mineichi for less than a year. Marriage seemed happy enough. Then something happened when they were sparring at gym - a spirit somehow penetrated the wards, slaying her and wounding Mineichi. There are even images of the dojo after the attack (Investigation/Perception on those with Raises)

Sakura glanced at the pictures, trying to make something out of them, though it wasn't easy.

OOC:
D7 MA Investigation/Perception, 1 CR making sense of the pics | 3k2-5 ⇒ 13 (TN: ?)

[Kuni Koyuki]

This was her element, seeking the secrets that lay within. That was what she was brought to this world to do and damnit even if this wasn't immediately on behalf of the Crab it was what she was going to do. All that tension built up in her waiting for the chance to chase the lead again Koyuki slides right down into position over Sakura's shoulder as she scans the details of everything she brought up. Searching, finding the puzzle pieces as best she can.

Day 7, MA | Kaeda Photo Investigation (Perception), void +1k1, 3 called Raises | 6k4-15 ⇒ 33 (TN: ?)

Natural 48, 3 Called Raises -> 33 Roll result.

[Kuni Koyuki]

Eyes narrowing in on the screen she holds up a hand, "Stop there," she says, scanning the image. Offering another instruction, one after the next as they sift through the images on the screen. Koyuki picking out some details that Sakura probably was missing. A knit on her brow she inhales, and lets it all go. Stepping away from the screen she walks a bit almost about to start to pace but stops that too.

Decisively, she pivots around and comes back to Sakurai, as well as Rei, and leans in toward them both. "I have more questions.. but how much do you want to know Hotaru-san? This search could complicate your life more than you wish," she speaks directly, hushed, and with that mix quite earnestly.

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura pondered, for a moment, falling into silence. "I guess my life is relatively simple now." She glanced up, and there was some hunger in her eyes. "I guess...before I answer, I have a question for you. Why are you two doing this? Not the specifics, just...what fuels you to look into this. If there is some secret buried here, it was buried by the powerful for a reason. You don't poke that for fun. Not even Usagi-sama."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei smirked at that. "I'm pretty sure I do, actually."

But then he sighed. "It's a favor for a friend. And... possibly a supernatural danger." He glanced at Koyuki. "Both of us have a duty to seek out and eliminate supernatural threats. Doesn't matter if they're powerful or not."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Looking over Rei, she thinks for a moment before responding. Resonating with his answer she faces Sakura again, "I am too curious for my own good. Something I am certain you would have expected to come out of the mouth of Usagi-sama here. He is not wrong though," she concedes, looking away from Sakura and stepping in that same direction to get herself a little more space. Looking around the library when she turns back to them to see just how tenable speaking from here was, and it seemed fine.

"When a danger is close you either move away, or eliminate it. I do not think moving away is an choice I can influence. That leaves us only one course foward," she says, as if propped up for some kind of mission statement.

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura sighed. "To be fair, last time I involved myself wit spirits, I got an offer of fealty, so..."

Se swiveled back towards tem. "Go ahead Kuni-san. Tell us more. I'm in."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Stepping forward again she joins back by the computer. Indicating as she explains, "See here, these deep cuts into the ground mark a great deal of the tatami and the doors laying here. Notice where they are fallen. They lay as if something burst out of the dojo, not inside. They aren't certain how a spirit could have broken through the wards to get inside, but what if it only had to get out?" she posits, almost talking more to the screen than Sakura and hoping she can keep up.

"Whatever it was, it was large and strong to do the amount of damage though. Yet, for so much damage there's remarkably little blood considering Mineichi was wounded and his wife murdered. So they must have cleaned it up or.. there was less blood for some reason," she wonders, but no evidence substantiates that.

"Spirits fear him, and his wife died in a encounter with a spirit that left him wounded. It is.. strange," she says, lip twisted in thought.

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura nodded and listened.

"Hm, I see...do you think then something was warded inside the dojo?" An interesting theory, for sure.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei considered the picture for a while, his lips pressed together.

"His wife was reported dead." Rei was silent a bit longer. When he spoke again, it was a whisper. "Any sources confirm seeing a body?"

[Kuni Koyuki]

On Sakura's suggest Koyuki's lip twists halfway into a grimace. Not quite shaking her head, but she didn't think that was likely. Rei's line of inquiry however brought her attention full. Brow knitting inward as if it aided the thinking that was playing out behind that otherwise stoic demeanor.

"Nothing we could confirm for truth, I would suspect," she says, speaking softly as necessary. Always kind of hating how that made it all seem like they were part of some major conspiracy plotting nefarious deeds. Alas, that was part of the job wasn't it? "Any statements they would have made.. not saying they were, but could be fabricated easily. Pictures.. none would dare photograph the body of his wife and post it. The disrespect it would afford," she swears under her breath, it suspiciously sounds like she invokes the name of at least one fortune in the mumble.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei nodded. "Yesterday, I spoke with an Otomo Koroshi. He told me he faced a great monster just outside of the desolation. When it died, inside its heart was a sword."

He took a deep breath. "I'm not saying they're connected. But... if they were connected, the implications are..." He grimaced.

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura frowned. "That's...odd. Not that I'm an epert on spirits and stuff." She sighed. "No body left behind, just a sword? Weird."

She leaned back in her chair. "Any idea on next steps?"

[Kuni Koyuki]

Crossing her arms over her midsection Koyuki looks from Sakura to Rei, Rei to Sakura, and then shrugs. Breathing intentionally to find a certain calm center while she tackles with the thought. Sakura comes to mind for something else. A hint of worry or unease sparking into the look of her eye. Just had to ask her, and she didn't need too many details that was all she had to do. Nothing else needed to be said, you'll be fine.

"I will need to think on this. In the meantime, Hotaru-san, may I ask you for a personal favor?"

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura raised an eyebrow. An idle thought came to mind, to deflect with a joke, but the Kuni didn't seem like someone who would appreciate it.

"Seems like I'm a lady in demand today." She replied neutrally. "Can you...talk around, what is it you would be asking Kuni-sama? I'm not committing to anything yet."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I just want you to look up a person for me, if you can. I would like to know if she is here on the world of dreams or.. well, if you can learn anything about her and let me know that would be appreciated. It is nothing urgent or secretive, I assure you," she offers, teeth grinding a bit as she forces herself to look anything like the woman who's heart and mind were pounding with emotions they could barely contain. That hot warmth at the back of her neck like she was caught in the middle of an incredibly sinful act.

[Hotaru Sakura]

A number of thoughts ran through Sakura's mind as she observed the Kuni. Such as...Is she constipated?" and Would it be blasphemy to ask for make up tips?

Finally, after an awkward and pregnant pause (it's a girl?) she showed a slow, small smile. "You'll owe me one Kuni-sama. Granted, IF I find anything. Now, what can you tell me about them?"

[Usagi Rei]

Rei did his best to avoid interrupting, perhaps pretending that he was a handsome bookcase, or some sort of sexy support column.