D4EA - A second serious banquet (Crane only)

[Kakita Konohamaru]

A wonderful little feast was laid out in one of the private rooms while Konohamaru went over the agenda he had planned.

At least, while he waited, the birdsong was nice.

He had left two notices up as soon as he remembered:

The first said this meeting was no longer mandatory, specifically excusing Doji Kintaro, the bride and Kio for diplomatic concerns.

The second, is an ominous message: "Do you remember?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku, visibly shaken, is the first to arrive.

"I do remember, Kakita-bugyo," she says, her eyes wide. "And I am afraid of what that might mean."

[Doji Kintaro]

Kintaro arrived in good spirits and said, "Remember what? Yushoko and Kio do not need me so I decided to come anyway. Last night was a wonderful showing for the Crane."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Yuuwaku, visibly shaken, is the first to arrive.

"I do remember, Kakita-bugyo," she says, her eyes wide. "And I am afraid of what that might mean."

A grim nod. A part of him almost offers his arms out for a hug, but reminds himself of proper decorum. He was used to the darkness of Rokugan, but even this made him falter - how must the less grim be feeling?

Kintaro arrived in good spirits and said, "Remember what? Yushoko and Kio do not need me so I decided to come anyway. Last night was a wonderful showing for the Crane."

"Yes, it was - one of my items is to congratulate us on a grand showing. Not just the in the evening, but I think we can hold our head with pride over the Peppers festival as well. You might want to sit down until more people arrive, Kintaro-san. This is going to be hard to believe. But please, before everyone arrives, feel free to enjoy some of the food I have gathered."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao arrives to the meeting looking well-rested but also on-edge. "Kakita-sama," he bows appropriately. "I do remember," his voice haunting and his eyes slightly wide. He greets the others as appropriate and, having caught the comment about eating, isn't shy about partaking. I don't know what's happening or why, but I'll de damned if I'm not going to be ready.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods to her kin as he enters.

Seems there are more of us who recall, she thinks. So perhaps I'm not insane.

But am I hallucinating that they say they remember, too?

[Kakita Masao]

Noticing her hesitance, Masao comments to Yuuwaku, "Kakita Yuuwaku-san, you must try these. Just not the same as yesterday's, no?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"You know, Kakita-nikutai," Yuuwaku replies, "they do seem to be. Indeed, I've been having the strangest sense of deja vu all day."

[Doji Kintaro]

"I suppose the food is better than expected today," Kintaro responded.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Doji-san," he says, referring to Kintaro. "How have the bride and lady Kio been today? Are they well?"

[Doji Kintaro]

"They are well, Kio has been more willful than usual but they are well," Kintaro responded kindly.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"They are well, Kio has been more willful than usual but they are well," Kintaro responded kindly.

There was no easy way to explain it. As such, he decided to be out with it.

With a deep breath, we began his explanation.

"Multiple people are experiencing the same day again, so to speak. Yuuwaku-san, Yuma-san, Masao-Nikutai and myself, at least, have 'done this day before'. We had this meeting yesterday, and while I will cover what was said then, That was why I asked if people remembered."

"It appears to be caused by a spirit knownas 'Hitomi'. Aji-san, a monk at the shrine where the festival took place for what would have been 'Yesterday' for you can help explain."

"I also excused you from the meeting as you told me last time you were helping with the bride's luncheon, although you seem in better spirits now."

[Doji Kintaro]

"I am always in good spirits," he responded.

"Wait please explain again?"

[Doji Soon-ja]

Doji Soon-ja listened gravely as Konohamaru explained his concerns.

“These sound like very serious issues, Magistrate Kakita,” she said in a quavering voice. “I must admit there have been troubling portents leading up to our arrival here. I will certainly take your advice on exercising caution around spirits. Furthermore, if you will not object, I will consult my divining sticks for advice.”

Assuming it was not forbidden, the old woman threw a handful of yarrow stalks to the ground before her, then bent over to peer at the random arrangements into which the sticks had fallen. “Oh, my,” she murmured, sounding concerned.

—
4EA Second serious banquet, ask yarrow sticks for advice, INT/Divination unknown TN: 6d10o10k4 49

[Dapper Dog]

The stalks read: Blood closest to the Heavens was spilled, yet it was not spilled. The day is auspicious, but not unique. Reunited, the darkness will end.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"It's a very curious hexagram," Soon-ja said, sounding puzzled as she read the configuration of the yarrow stalks. "There is a hint of the 'same day every day' problem that Kakita-bugyo speaks off. But also many enigmas. Blood close to Heaven spilled, yet not spilled? To end the darkness, someone must be reunited. But who? What could it mean?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Kakita-bugyo," Yuuwaku asks, artistic leanings stirring in her, "you said the spirit is known as 'Hitomi.' What else is known of it?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Wait please explain again?"

"Have you seen the play Me-" ...no, he'd get lost in the controversy.

"Big Chun-" ...no, that had them taken to Sakkaku rather than actual time loops.

"...." Why didn't he know more plays?! If he could find one which fit, it would explain what happened.

"Yuuwaku-san, if we survive please get a playwright to write about this."

With that said, he tried his best to explain it. It probably wouldn't be very good, but...

"So. Days go 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, normally. What's happened is a powerful spirit is making it so we've gone 1 - 2 - 3 - 3 instead. For some reason, a few people remember this, so for us we've gone 1 - 2 - 3(1) - 3(2). Does that help?"

"It's a very curious hexagram," Soon-ja said, sounding puzzled as she read the configuration of the yarrow stalks. "There is a hint of the 'same day every day' problem that Kakita-bugyo speaks off. But also many enigmas. Blood close to Heaven spilled, yet not spilled? To end the darkness, someone must be reunited. But who? What could it mean?"

"Last night, or day 3(1) ...something was... Forgive me, my memory is foggy on this, but we were on the beach... and..."

He bowed deeply and apologetically. "forgive me - I remember not."

"Someone must be reunited - that sounds important. Who and who?"

"Kakita-bugyo," Yuuwaku asks, artistic leanings stirring in her, "you said the spirit is known as 'Hitomi.' What else is known of it?"

"Real name Doji Hitomi, as far as I remember. Not the clan champion. She's a small child ghost who has been around for at least ten years, where Aji-san noted something similar happened before. She has a rhyme she uses, something like:"

"First night, curse begins,
Second night, I eat your sins,
third night, curse reborn,
Fourth night, a child you mourn."

"I spoke about Torikata Hanatsuko-san about her, and she said the presence of either Gaki-do or Toshigoku was present. It also called me 'daddy' once. I am not a father."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Yuuwaku-san, if we survive please get a playwright to write about this."

"Hai, Kakita-bugyo." Yuuwaku nods sharply.

"Real name Doji Hitomi, as far as I remember. Not the clan champion. She's a small child ghost who has been around for at least ten years, where Aji-san noted something similar happened before. She has a rhyme she uses, something like:"

"First night, curse begins,
Second night, I eat your sins,
third night, curse reborn,
Fourth night, a child you mourn."

"I spoke about Torikata Hanatsuko-san about her, and she said the presence of either Gaki-do or Toshigoku was present. It also called me 'daddy' once. I am not a father."

Yuuwaku considers for a bit, recalling what she has been taught of narrative and the histories from which they tend to emerge. It is not much, to be fair, but some of the old lectures stuck in her head.

"Is such a name mentioned in the histories of this place? I mean the conflict that we are here, ultimately, to put to rest?"

Turning to Soon-ja, she adds, "Auntie, is such a thing recalled in your wisdom?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He arrives, somewhat late, and completely not because he was wondering more about wagasas as much as the important things.
Or because he threw the entire tea supply from the house away and told the servants to serve a blend new he got at the market. Maybe the earliness of this would prevent the old stock from getting poisoned, though.

He enters with a bow, taking a seat and waiting to be acknowledged first.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Is such a name mentioned in the histories of this place? I mean the conflict that we are here, ultimately, to put to rest?"

Turning to Soon-ja, she adds, "Auntie, is such a thing recalled in your wisdom?"

"Doji Hitomi, Doji Hitomi," the elderly woman muttered to herself, trying to remember. "I do remember a Doji Hitomi - not the champion, of course. This would've been cousin Reju's daughter. But we don't talk about cousin Reju any more, not since his...ahhh....incident."

-
4EA Do I know who Doji Hitomi is? No, not that one, the other one. INT/Lore: Crane: 5d10o10k4 30

[Kakita Konohamaru]

He arrives, somewhat late, and completely not because he was wondering more about wagasas as much as the important things.
Or because he threw the entire tea supply from the house away and told the servants to serve a blend new he got at the market. Maybe the earliness of this would prevent the old stock from getting poisoned, though.

He enters with a bow, taking a seat and waiting to be acknowledged first.

As the magistrate listens, he gives a nod of acknowledgement to the Asahina, welcoming him to the conversation.

"Doji Hitomi, Doji Hitomi," the elderly woman muttered to herself, trying to remember. "I do remember a Doji Hitomi - not the champion, of course. This would've been cousin Reju's daughter. But we don't talk about cousin Reju any more, not since his...ahhh....incident."

"Forgive me, Oba-san, but I must ask you tell us what you know. It could be vital in saving us all, and perhaps her."

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Well, it's a little embarrassing to the family, but if it's important..." the elderly woman said reluctantly.

"Doji Reju was one of our family's finest duelists, but after the fall of the last Hantei, he suffered… a loss of purpose, let us say. He set aside his loyalty to the Crane and swore fealty to the Dragon Champion, Togashi Hitomi. He even got Dragon tattoos. They look ghastly, by the way - they don’t suit his complexion at all. But cousin Reju was entirely proud of them.”

“Oh, back to what I was saying… Cousin Reju took a Dragon wife and had two daughters: Ryosaki, and Hitomi. But as far as I know, they’re still alive and well, living in the Dragon mountains.”

“Though, I do remember another Hitomi,” the old woman mused absent-mindedly. “It was awhile ago, though, and not a Doji Hitomi. She would’ve been a Hida Hitomi…. if she had lived.”

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku leans towards Soon-ja.

"Please, Auntie, tell us more!"

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma was in attendance too, having quietly arrived at the time that would trigger the least paradoxes.

He had stayed quiet, the cogs in his brain turning non-stop to solve the mystery. Without much success until now.