Kakita stood near the Shrine looking intently towards the central residence of the Sun Goddess.

He had sent word for the mysterious girl to meet him here… If there was any place best to meet with a daughter of a kami, and a place where darkness would be eager to avoid… it was here.

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OOC: Expecting

Somehow, it managed to cling to her regardless, the shade of the shrine's roof seeming a shade deeper as he noticed the girl next to him. If Shiba recommended her, it likely wasn't the same sort, though. She bowed to him. "Kakita-san, we meet again. How have you been?"

“I have been walking the path of destiny.” He replied.

Then with a smile, “So pretty good… all things considered.”

He paused before speaking, “When last we spoke you talked of continuing our discussion…”

"Ah yes, the talk of blades," she nodded. "There seems to be more to speak of."

"I was curious to hear your thoughts... There is a matter that I am attending to at the moment at the behest of... your uncle. We spoke previously about avoiding unnecessary damage when cutting... I was wondering how you normally go about doing such a thing. How do you make sure you are cutting the right thing?" He asked.

"... That can be difficult. I try to take my time observing when I need to be absolutely sure that what I'm cutting is what should be cut," she said thoughtfully. "There's always a risk of potentially misdiagnosing the illness, so there's a balancing act of risk and urgency."

He nodded, “You speak truthfully.”

He then paused, “Would you be able to conduct this service now? There is a man… a potentially dangerous man who is spreading maddening corruption among the followers of Lady Doji. The Emperor suggested I rely upon you in assuring we find the right man.”

He stopped for a minute, “We have a name… Hadananzi. Would you be able to mark him without rousing suspicion? Ascertain if he is truly the evil we seek?”

Shosuro considered the idea. "What have you discovered this far? What makes you believe he is evil?"

“A confluence of destinies all combining at one time and place…” He began.

“I… once was a member of the Crane clan. I remember the time when I was a child… there began to be a growing darkness… an illness of malice and madness take root.” He paused.

“When I was a young man… I was trained by a collection of mountain spirits who warned me of the contagion and trained me to combat it… I returned to find my place within my clan no longer there. I am locked on a path to confront this evil… and it was here that others who have provided more insight have assisted in narrowing my search.”

He continued, “A man named Doji Hikaru, a personal attendant to the Lady Doji, has been on a quest to solve a mysterious illness which has befallen his Lady. He, alongside Jiyo Sora and I have discussed with the Emperor these concerns. Jiyo Sora had a vision wherein he saw a
Malicious entity here within the capital spreading its darkness among the current residents… he also has given personal testimony that during their travels to save Lord Hisomu… Nanzi of the Crane returned with a suspicious companion… and he posits that this creature has masqueraded as Hadananzi for the past 15 years.”

He paused, “As odd as it may seem… it is our most credible lead. Odd circumstances follow this man… but before we take action we need to be sure that we truly have identified the proper target. This is of grave importance to the Empire… a pernicious evil resides within our midsts… we must extract it if the body is to be whole.”

She frowned a little. "That is a heavy conclusion to reach. Potentially a dangerous one, whether it's true or false." She pressed her lips together. IT seems to take a few moments to reach her conclusion, but she finally nods. "I will observe him for a while and see if I can find more. Be careful, Kakita-san. You may wind up a target regardless of the truth."

“If it so be that this man is who we are seeking… I will consider it a badge of honor to be targeted by such a one.”

He bowed to the woman, “I thank you for your willingness to help. Any insight on the man would be most greatly appreciated.”

She smiled a little and bowed in return. "I will do my best, Kakita-san."

"Thank you." He bowed his head deeply.

She hesitated, then reached out, touching his sleeve lightly. For a second, he can see her face completely clearly, without his mind trying to tell him this was a very boring and unremarkable person that he doesn't need to remember. Despite her countenance resembling some tales of ghosts in certain tribes, she was very solid and real, and her relation to Bayushi was much more obvious. "If there's anything to be found, I will find it, Kakita-san."

He looked intently into the eyes of the spectral beauty and nodded affirmatively. Dead man and ghost held their gaze for a ethereal moment.

From the depths of his heart he said, “I’m counting on you.”

She nodded and stepped back with a bow. "I should get started."

He nodded firmly.

And watched with baited anticipation…

/scene