The Song and Dance (Day 6 Early Evening)

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

It was a restaurant that Shouji had been to before, a simple place by most standards but the food was good. He had sent a letter to the blue bird house earlier asking if Kakita Konohamaru was available for a chat sometime.

The return on the message had been quicker then he was anticipating and a hasty dinner had been arranged. Seated at a table in the back where they coukd talk without gathering too much attention he waited for the arrival of the Crane.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

To call upon the dread Magistrate with an offer of dinner meant two things, back in the Crane lands.

First, someone wished to be ignored, and was offering a large sum of bribes or time wasting to ensure that it's the case.
Second, the crime in the district was reaching acceptable levels.
Three, someone was trying to poison him under the guise of one or two.

However, these weren't Crane lands, so three was definitely on the table.

So he dressed in appropriate attire for an evening dinner, made his way to the local and after asking the entrance staff, found his way to the dinner table.

Before joining, he bowed to the ship's captain, waiting to be invited into the dinner space.

"You wished to see me, Tsuruchi-san?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I thought he should finally get around to chatting with each other." Shouji rose to his feet and offered the older man a deep bow. "Thank you for coming, Kakita-sama."

He indicated a seat at the table. "Please join me."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"You honour me."

As instructed, he took a place at the dinner table. His posture is formal, straight - almost agonisingly so to the casual observer. Less suited to a dinner gathering and more appropriate for a formal inquiry in the Empress' court. As the guest, he waits upon the captain before indulging himself.

"What is it you wished to discuss?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Food had not arrived yet, but shortly after the Magistrate sat, tea was served. A pleasant green though it didn't have much fanfare as to not overpower the coming meal.

"First off I should offer my congratulations I believe. From what I understand you lead the investigation to end the Curse that plaqued us all."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

A nod, but he ultimately decides to deflect the compliment.

"Local monk Aji and Torikata-san deserve your praise more - they were vital in resolving the curse. I heard after the fact that the Mantis were on the front lines preventing deaths, so let me return any praise given."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I'll pass my thanks in that direction then, Kakita-sama." Shouji offered with a polite dip of his head. "As well as send your thanks to my Crew. They helped where they could in this debacle."

"Still i am happy to hear you played a part. Though I admit it took some effort on my part to finally learn your name."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Still i am happy to hear you played a part. Though I admit it took some effort on my part to finally learn your name."

Interesting - why was he happy to hear of the magistrate's participation?

"My work mostly keeps me within Crane lands, but it is still strange that my name was hard to track down. What need would you have of it, or indeed me, as the case may be?"

He looks to Shouji's cup to see if he's drank as he asks.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

The Captain had in fact drank from his cup it that told the Crane something who knew. "It was a small matter really." He replied with a slight smile.

"Yesterday a member of your Clan rewuested my time, apparently to seek out an item related to the curse. He said he came on the behalf of Kakita-Bugyo, and when I asked him for more information about the reason and who you were he said. Kakita-bugyo is a magistrate." He sighed softly. "Saying the Kakita Magistrate is a magistrate isn't much in the way of an answe, at least by my standards."

"It honestly caused me to doubt the sincerity of his words, as well as some of his other actions. I likely wouldn't of gone through the trouble of presenting the object which was in the possesion of one of my crew if he wasn't from the Crane and our clans weren't on good terms."

"Afterwards I decided to seek you out in order to confirm things. Though when I asked another I was greeted with much the same answer and had to inquire further."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The Captain had in fact drank from his cup it that told the Crane something who knew. "It was a small matter really." He replied with a slight smile.

Seeing that the Captain had drank from the tea, the magistrate took it as a sign that it was acceptable for him to begin drinking. So, he drank and listened.

"Yesterday a member of your Clan rewuested my time, apparently to seek out an item related to the curse. He said he came on the behalf of Kakita-Bugyo, and when I asked him for more information about the reason and who you were he said. Kakita-bugyo is a magistrate." He sighed softly. "Saying the Kakita Magistrate is a magistrate isn't much in the way of an answe, at least by my standards."

"It honestly caused me to doubt the sincerity of his words, as well as some of his other actions. I likely wouldn't of gone through the trouble of presenting the object which was in the possesion of one of my crew if he wasn't from the Crane and our clans weren't on good terms."

"Afterwards I decided to seek you out in order to confirm things. Though when I asked another I was greeted with much the same answer and had to inquire further."

Hmm. That all sounded... odd.

"And none of them told you my name? It is not unknown to the delegation here. I will ask what made them feel they needed to hide my name."

The look on the magistrate's face turned concerned.

"As for the item, what was it he demanded? Since I am here, I hope I can help with other inquiries as well."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I do not know if it was any real malsicousness on their part, I think they assumed I should know you, even after I stated that such was not the case." He lifted his cup to his lips again. "Apaprently you are somewhat famous? Though I admit I've never heard of you before now even though I have met severlal magistrates of the Kakita."

"I would say he requested, but I won't argue aganist your words either. As for what it was, it was an image of Hida Gusari, or so they believed. That one of crew had found on the beach. When I tried to inquire if it might be broken or returned, as my crew might be loathe to part with it. well the reply was vague at best, rude at worst." He pursued his lips. "I wasn't well pleased with this man who said he was acting in your name."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"I do not know if it was any real malsicousness on their part, I think they assumed I should know you, even after I stated that such was not the case." He lifted his cup to his lips again. "Apaprently you are somewhat famous? Though I admit I've never heard of you before now even though I have met severlal magistrates of the Kakita."

"I imagine they said that because I am the only Crane magistrate in town. I can see how that would confuse matters."

"I would say he requested, but I won't argue aganist your words either. As for what it was, it was an image of Hida Gusari, or so they believed."

"Ah yes, the statue of Hida Gusari. It turned out to be correct, so I thank for your cooperation despite the less than pleasant experience."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

He pursued his lips. "I wasn't well pleased with this man who said he was acting in your name."

"I didn't send anyone after either statue. More we worked out the statues were important. Do you remember their name?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Asahina Sanaharu." Shouji replied easily. He knew the man's name for certain since he had sailed south with him.

"Still i suppose that might explain why he had no documentation and didn't use your name." Perhaps he shouldn't have parted with the statue so easily.

"Whatever the case, I seek no punishment for him. It turned out well after all. If you would do me the favor of convincing him to avoid me though?"

"I think that it would be best for all parties involved."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

A nod.

"It seems like an unfortunate breakdown of communications. Very well, I will pass on the request."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It is, and one I would hate to see go any farther." He paused a moment as their meals arrived. Grilled fish fresh from the sea, a few fried shrimp, rice, miso soup and pickles.

"I do care about my relationship with the Crane, even if my actions might seem to say otherwise to some."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"It is, and one I would hate to see go any farther." He paused a moment as their meals arrived. Grilled fish fresh from the sea, a few fried shrimp, rice, miso soup and pickles.

"I do care about my relationship with the Crane, even if my actions might seem to say otherwise to some."

He did remember Yuuwaku did mention a mantis.

Oh no, she didn't, did she?

"I am glad we could catch this issue before it became a dent in our relations, then. May I propose a toast to good future relations?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It would be ill fortune to toast with tea." The Captain replied with a half smile, before raising a hand to beckon over a servant.

"It does sound like a fine idea though." Even if his words may have missed the mark.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Who said anything about toasting with tea? Sake's on me, if you'd like."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I suppose no one did." Shouji replied with an amused smile on his lips. Dipping his head in thanks, and acceptance of the offer.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Calling over a servant and picking out a bottle of the good stuff, he offered to pour for the Tsuruchi, and would accept if he wished to pour a cup for him. Or he could pour his own, it mattered not.

Should a toast be arranged, the toast we would propose would be:

"To a Friendship between Mantis and Crane. May we be ports for each other in the storms of the future."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji would of course pour a cup for Konohamaru, it was good manners after all. Something most he had poured for didn't notice. As only an Otomo had offered to pour for him.

"To friendship." The Mantis agreed raising his glass in a toast. "Kampai."

He drained the cup, they weren't here to sip sake after all, before settling further into his seat. "That was quite good, a fine choice."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

In time with the seafarer, Kono downed the sake.

"Thank you - I admit I didn't know the brand before choosing it. Must be a good sign."

Still, it felt like there was...something else going on.

"I assume there is more to this meeting than the incident we discussed?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

The Tsuruchi set his cup to the side and picked up his chop sticks. "That was the one most on my mind." The young man admitted.

"There are other things though. Have you heard much of the happenings of the day?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Seeing as his host had started, he allowed himself to partake of the food as well.

"If you mean the declaration of Oturi II, then yes. I was absent for the announcement itself, though. I assume that's what you mean?"