[EA, D8] Court Part 5

[Hisomu Kuni]

"That would not have been my first choice, but as my father states we go to war with the army we have," she offered.

"Once the thaw recedes we can leave, in the meanwhile would Kuni-san be open to future private discussions on this subject? I am ever the faithful student."

"Of course. I will be ready whenever you are, Doji-sama."

[Isawa Kyosei]

"I also would like to speak to Hisomu Kuni-san, if he had a moment."

[Doji Dojihime]

"Of course. I will be ready whenever you are, Doji-sama."

"I am thankful, Kuni-san, the Crane are thankful," she said with a respectful bow.

"I also would like to speak to Hisomu Kuni-san, if he had a moment."

"It seems you will be in high demand," she turned from the man to Susumu.

[Hisomu Kuni]

"I also would like to speak to Hisomu Kuni-san, if he had a moment."

"Of course." He looks to Susumu for permission to step away.

"I am thankful, Kuni-san, the Crane are thankful," she said with a respectful bow.
...

"It seems you will be in high demand," she turned from the man to Susumu.

That comment got a slight reaction. Kuni was used to be knowledgeable on his area of expertise. He was not use to being in demand. He was just a background character after all.

[Isawa Kyosei]

Kyosei steps to the side to allow Kuni to either join him, or move on.

[Ryoshun Rei]

Rei had been surprised by Susumu's sudden praise. It felt like an overestimation and she was unsure how to react. There was an awkward pause as the Spider left the dais, leaving her before the Emperor again.

[Wu Ko]

Hiroya bows again "No apologies necessary Togashi-sama." He said quietly and then lapsed back into silence as they talked about what Satsuki should do knowing it was certainly not his place to weigh in on such matters. He saw Ko's hand fall to the side and his own found it gently gripping it for comfort and ground in this tumultuous situation.

While the rest of court continued apace she managed to be there for Satsuki, giving her support, but more than that hidden admist all one might expect she had Hiroya's hand in her own. Fingers intertwining almost reflexively. Discrete only by the subtleness and lacking call to attention she gave it.

[Nozomi]

Nozomi, having not slept well, and having several other functions to perform, was late in entering the audience chambers. The aftermath of the commotion may have been cleaned up, but the harrowed effects it had on others' nerves was obvious no matter what. When she had bowed to the dais, she and her daughter went to the wall, waiting to be summoned or until she found someone free to approach for more information. Servant gossip was not something she was relying on today.

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(OOC: Was out today. back. Private Message/Quote me if you approach Nozomi. I will be checking in and finding someone for her to approach tomorrow if nobody has already.)

[Hisomu Susumu]

[
"It seems you will be in high demand," she turned from the man to Susumu.

"The reward for good work is more work Doji-san" Susumu replies, brining an outstretched hand delicately to his lips as if to hide a laugh.

"And it would appear that there is plenty of work to go around"

[Doji Dojihime]

"The reward for good work is more work Doji-san" Susumu replies, brining an outstretched hand delicately to his lips as if to hide a laugh.

"And it would appear that there is plenty of work to go around"

She nodded and then added warmly, "Yes we have a lifetime of work ahead, is there anything else I can do for the Spider?"

[Yuzuru]

"Yes, Honored Consort, I don't know if it is important. My report about the bear." She sighed. "And why it is here." Then she lowered her eyes. "Also about the way it came to this world. Which it is a portal deep in the woods."

"It is no surprise that it is a spirit of Chikushudo, but the portal is surprising."

Even on a day of such drama and evil, the Consort managed to smile. His fox even stopped growling.

"Knowing the Realm of Animals still cleaves to our own is heartening. Is the exact location known? I will have to have it watched if it is, or found if it is not."

[Bayushi Sasori]

"It is no surprise that it is a spirit of Chikushudo, but the portal is surprising."

Even on a day of such drama and evil, the Consort managed to smile. His fox even stopped growling.

"Knowing the Realm of Animals still cleaves to our own is heartening. Is the exact location known? I will have to have it watched if it is, or found if it is not."

"Those truly connected to the realm can feel it's pull. I... I also saw the vicinity of where it can be. I felt its pull." She nodded looking at the fox and back to the consort. "And by what the bear spirit showed me I may be able to pin point its location. I am glad to bring such heartening news in this dark time. I worry too that this darkness may affect other realms as well." The Bayushi frowned. "I would like to aid in the endeavor of protecting the Realms that are close to Ningen-do... Such as Sakkaku and Chikuchudo."

[Yuzuru]

"Those truly connected to the realm can feel it's pull. I... I also saw the vicinity of where it can be. I felt its pull." She nodded looking at the fox and back to the consort. "And by what the bear spirit showed me I may be able to pin point its location. I am glad to bring such heartening news in this dark time. I worry too that this darkness may affect other realms as well." The Bayushi frowned. "I would like to aid in the endeavor of protecting the Realms that are close to Ningen-do... Such as Sakkaku and Chikuchudo."

"Yes, protecting Chikushudo and Sakkaku from the influence of others is important. We will begin close to home. Can the mother bear be persuaded to return to where she belongs?"

The fox had calmed considerably and was now looking between the two with interest.

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Yes, protecting Chikushudo and Sakkaku from the influence of others is important. We will begin close to home. Can the mother bear be persuaded to return to where she belongs?"

The fox had calmed considerably and was now looking between the two with interest.

"She sort of told me when the cubs could cross they will return to where they belong. The cubs were too young to cross and well violence to protect them had to be ensued." She then gave a glance to Bayushi and back to Yuzuru. "Bear sama is at peace now that none is there to threaten her cubs. I offer myself to your service Honorable Yuzuru sama and Hsieh Hsieh sama to protect them and see that they cross as well as to help protect the other realms from the influence of chaos and darkness."

[Yuzuru]

"She sort of told me when the cubs could cross they will return to where they belong. The cubs were too young to cross and well violence to protect them had to be ensued." She then gave a glance to Bayushi and back to Yuzuru. "Bear sama is at peace now that none is there to threaten her cubs. I offer myself to your service Honorable Yuzuru sama and Hsieh Hsieh sama to protect them and see that they cross as well as to help protect the other realms from the influence of chaos and darkness."

"The Nature Wardens of my family will remain in place to deter any that would disturb her and her cubs then. You may help them as you wish. There is a Saru shugenja also working to the same goal, so I will gladly accept your help. The Spirit Realms, especially Chikushudo and Sakkaku are especially dear to those of us that were once Ayakashi, but we should not forget the others. The Bat are best placed to defend the Realm of Waiting and the Nezumi are close to the Realm of Dreams. I think it well past time we pulled on the strings that connect us all to work together to defend the realms. Ningen-do would be a pale reflection of itself without these connection."

[Bayushi Sasori]

"The Nature Wardens of my family will remain in place to deter any that would disturb her and her cubs then. You may help them as you wish. There is a Saru shugenja also working to the same goal, so I will gladly accept your help. The Spirit Realms, especially Chikushudo and Sakkaku are especially dear to those of us that were once Ayakashi, but we should not forget the others. The Bat are best placed to defend the Realm of Waiting and the Nezumi are close to the Realm of Dreams. I think it well past time we pulled on the strings that connect us all to work together to defend the realms. Ningen-do would be a pale reflection of itself without these connection."

Sasori nodded. "May I make a suggestion Honorable Yuzuru sama. Perhaps the Bat are more suited to defend from the denizen of Gaki-do due to the closeness the realm has with the the Chaos realm. It can be troublesome if let unattended." She shook her head. "Mother was of the Chinsei tribe and know about how some ancestors tend to linger in this realm." Sasori shook her head. "I am intruding, aren't I?" Wouldn't be a child of the Clan of Bayushi if I didn't have plans in mind. "I apologize."

[Yuzuru]

Sasori nodded. "May I make a suggestion Honorable Yuzuru sama. Perhaps the Bat are more suited to defend from the denizen of Gaki-do due to the closeness the realm has with the the Chaos realm. It can be troublesome if let unattended." She shook her head. "Mother was of the Chinsei tribe and know about how some ancestors tend to linger in this realm." Sasori shook her head. "I am intruding, aren't I?" Wouldn't be a child of the Clan of Bayushi if I didn't have plans in mind. "I apologize."

"The Realm of the Hungry Dead is as much a part of this as that of Waiting or Dreams. However, knowing where it may impart on our World is useful information in itself. All portals to the Realms should be recorded now. Even the friendliest of realms to our own has potentially fatal trip falls within it. That . . . thing and it's corruption of Dreams for example. If the Bat can help with Gaki-do then all the better."

Hsieh-Hsieh growled softly and Yuzuru tilted his head towards the fox.

"Gather those that can help in this, Sasori."

He raised his voice slightly.

"Sorry dear friend, but I appear to be borrowing one of your followers for a while."

He smiled at Bayushi.

[Bayushi]

"Sorry dear friend, but I appear to be borrowing one of your followers for a while."

He smiled at Bayushi.

The man lifted his hands in a slightly exaggerated shrug. His eyes were smiling. "I suppose can part with her temporarily for your sake."

[Nozomi]

-snip-

As she settled into the court, Nozomi's eyes locked in on one particular figure. It was the first time that she had ever actually met him. She couldn't help but stare a little. He was certainly as ... eye catching as she'd been led to believe. His presence, along with his daughter, was ... she wasn't quite sure how to feel about that right now. But she kept to the wall, trying not to stare.

Her daughter caught her attention and she looked down, leaning towards her. "Who is that, mom?"

"Bayushi, dear. One of the kami."

[Makime Ayano]

"We all have a lot to learn, Makime-san. Isawa-san, I would imagine the Nezumi have eyes on the Pit..."

"The question is...do we have the time to learn it?" Ayano replied solemnly, "And spread what we know."