D2 MM - The open hand of the Law [Expecting]

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Perhaps it would surprise the Kuni to find a Crane magistrate at their castle just before they had planned to investigate everyone else.

Perhaps not - Kono could get zero reads on the Kuni who investigated him.

However, when he asked for directions to Hida Kitusuchi's office, they did not rebuke him, so he assumed he was clean.

He hoped - he knew not enough to be sure. But should the taint take him, he would do his damnedest to take his own life first.

And so he found himself near Kitusuchi's office, where he had spoken to the men outside to request a short meeting, if now was a convenient enough time.

He fingered his magistrate's seal as he waited.

It would be interesting to know how, or indeed if, the Dread Magistrate was known in Crab lands.

[Hida Kitusuchi]

The guards send him in to her office where Kitusuchi was already speaking with a Crab samurai. She turned and said, "The Magistrate, how I can help you?"

[Dapper Dog]

Hiruma Jinzo.jpg (22.36 KiB) Viewed 1801 times

“It seems the Monster Magistrate, has arrived to save the day… or ruin it, well welcome to the party, Magistrate-san,” the second samurai offered from his seiza in a slow but manic staccato pace..

[Kakita Konohamaru]

There was a small glow in Konohamaru's heart at the title 'the magistrate'.

He offered a bow

"Lord Hida-sama, thank you for agreeing to see me. I wo-"

Hiruma Jinzo.jpg

“It seems the Monster Magistrate, has arrived to save the day… or ruin it, well welcome to the party, Magistrate-san,” the second samurai offered from his seiza in a slow but manic staccato pace..

"...Well I suppose that covers my purpose for being here."

He bowed in response to the seiza, before addressing the gathered.

"But yes, I would like to offer my assistance in any matters you see fit. To help 'save' rather than 'ruin' the day, as you described it Crab-san, Hida-sama."

[Dapper Dog]

"Hiruma... Jinzo, my friend, Hiruma Jinzo. And we don't need your help, as welcome as you think it might be... might be," he responded.

[Hida Kitusuchi]

Hida-dono added, "I will at least hear him out before I decide, Jinzo."

"Speak, magistrate," she responded.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Thank you Hida-sama, Hiruma-sama."

A nod before he begins.

"The wedding has bought an influx of people, the numbers of which has surprised even. Obvious effects aside, there are many who'd use the other clans as cover. They think because there are guests, the law must be lax. A unified showing of legal forces, even if only a show, could scare lesser crooks into behaving."

"Then the real issues would be easier to address."

He remembered the kindness of people like Aji, and his conversation on desire some days ago with Yuuwaku.

"At the core, I want to help. There are people and groups here I want to protect, and I want to do good by you as our hosts."

He thought not of the Crane delegation, but the area known as the pits. Some of his favourite yoriki had come from similar areas.

"Of course, you would know the area better than I. If you would rather I not, I shall abide."

With that, he knelt before them.

"By your judgements."

[Hida Kitusuchi]

"I see you are earnest, you can help but Hiruma-san has the final call, you can work with him, dismissed," she said going back to her desk to look over papers.

[Dapper Dog]

"Shall we... make ourselves scarce partner?" he said rising and adjusting his daisho.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Shall we... make ourselves scarce partner?" he said rising and adjusting his daisho.

Waiting for the Hiruma to fully rise, Konohamaru fully rose himself, dusting himself off with an earnest smile.

"Our work awaits, partner - by your lead. Thank you for your time, Hida-sama."

[Dapper Dog]

Once outside the door slid close he said, “So what is that you feel you need to insist upon my… my domain. Do tell me, Magistrate, what is so… so important you must bring a bit of chaos… CHAOS to my perfect little village.”

He started walking and added, “Today started so well.”

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Once outside the door slid close he said, “So what is that you feel you need to insist upon my… my domain. Do tell me, Magistrate, what is so… so important you must bring a bit of chaos… CHAOS to my perfect little village.”

He started walking and added, “Today started so well.”

Konohamaru followed in stride.

"The Chaos came with the wedding. Within the village, amongst other things, are two Daidoji kuge, neither of which can defend themselves. You may already know, but rumours are someone is gathering the ronin tomorrow night at the beach, and a witch is out to get the groom. Neither sound fun, but a ronin recruitment drive at the door could be chaos. You'd know more about this city than I do, so you'd know what else needs dealing with."

[Dapper Dog]

"Well if you were me, and you're not, but if you were where would you start?" he replied.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Well if you were me, and you're not, but if you were where would you start?" he replied.

He nodded - business like and to the point. This could be a good partnership. He gave it a thought, then stated his case.

"The ronin gathering. The 'witch' we have an idea of the target - we know next to nothing on the ronin. Too many unknowns, too much potential damage. It could be a simple Mantis drive, it could be a cult, it could be anything. When we know what's happening, we can go from there. If more people disappear by the docks, that'd be an issue. I suspect at least some shugenja will look into the Witch rumours, considering the timing."

But it was true, he was not him. And a good partnership is built on working together.

"Where would you start?"

[Dapper Dog]

"The witch," he replied.

"Like you said," he added with a grand gesture, "we have a target."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru nodded.

"The enemy you know where to defend over the threat you don't - by your lead. The rumours state Hida Yoji is the target. There can be a lot of reasons why, but do any enemies come to mind?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Why don't we speak with him and get the story from the man himself," he said making his way to the third floor.

"I'll even... let you... ask the... questions."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru noticed the pauses in Hiruma-san's statements.
Is there a problem?
Was the man ill?
Either way he followed suit, moving in accordance to the Hiruma's pace.
He'd probably best not comment on it now, but he'd keep it in mind.

"A good start. Even so, no prolific enemies you know of?"

[Dapper Dog]

"None that I can recall, but he was at the Wall so who knows," the Hiruma replied as they waited outside Yoji's room.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Who knows indeed - like you say, let's ask the man himself."

As one of the servants guarding the room went inside to announce their presence, he waited.

[Hida Yoji]

Hida Yoji was in his kimono just getting dressed as a servant girl attended to cleaning the room. He bowed to the Hiruma and Kakita and said, “Good morning Jinzo-sama, Crane-sama; how can I help you this morning?”

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru returned the bow, deeper than the one he had received.

"Good morning, Hida-san. I am Kakita Konohamaru, Crane Magistrate given permission to assist with local law enforcement. This is Hiruma Jinzo-san, who is highly trusted by Hida Kitusuchi-sama in such matters."

It occurred to him that he didn't know the exact relation between the Hida and the Hiruma - he may be a magistrate, he may just be a trusted guard, commander, who knows. He decided to stick with generic praise.

"We have reason to believe someone wishes to hurt you, and want to ask some questions. May we come in?"

[Hida Yoji]

"They got ol' JInzo-sama working this," he said. Yoji nodded and replied, "I told the Kuni what happened but I can tell you too. I was at the Hole last night and during the proceedings I heard a woman's voice like a whisper it said something like the mountain will fall to the Crane and it mentioned ruin was coming."

"It unnerved me."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Ah, he could see why Jinzo wanted to start here - this had some serious implications. Having not been formally invited he inched his foot closer to the entrance of the premises, putting the question subtly forward.

He nodded at the Hida's words - it was time to begin building empathy.

"It would unnerve me too. Can you tell us what else you remember from that night?"

Start with the immediate, what was easy to remember, then go from there.

[Hida Yoji]

Hida Yoji bade them enter and responded, “I talked to many samurai or well they talked to me. I think I saw Yancho-sama there, oh and Daichi was there too. A Mantis vomited I think… well several folks did, can’t hold their shoju. But I don’t remember anything specific about the voice. I left soon after that came here, told the Kuni.”

“Now folks are saying I am being hunted by a witch.”