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Blood and Secrets (Legend of the Five Rings)

In little over ten minutes the assembled Samurai found themselves at "The Fortune's Cup." The inn was was well furnished, and sported a larger common room than the one in Tenraku. Indeed, though the style was similar it seemed everything in the establishment was more impressive than anything Tenraku had boasted. It was not so surprising, considering the Jouzousho was over twice the size of the other village and its people had not fled in terror of the crimes committed within their borders.

Many of those people seemed to be enjoying themselves within The Fortune's Cup. The room was quite full, with dozens sitting down enjoying meals and drink after a day's hard labor. With the setting of the sun it was time to set aside such things and take well earned refreshment, for even though the efforts of the peasantry may have seemed tireless in maintaining Rokugani society, they were but mortal like anyone else. Many were sitting and laughing as they shared sake, playing games of Fortunes and Winds and Mahjong, while a few were even hunched over boards of Go and Shogi.

But despite the cheer, there was a… tension, to the air. People laughed, but almost too loudly. They smiled, but just a hair too broadly. It was as if they were trying to focus everything on the moment, on being happy, to hide away from something else. They reveled in order to run from other feelings, but the measure was only half successful at best. Fear rested beneath the tides of high spirits, bubbling just below the surface and waiting to emerge.

"Greetings, noble Samurai!" a tall peasant wearing well made, if plain, kimono said as he approached from behind the bar on the far side of the room. He bowed low to the group, sweeping an arm as if to present the inn. "This one has the humble pleasure of being Hachiro, and I welcome you to my modest establishment." He smiled as he rose, taking care not to meet the eyes of anyone in the group. "Do you require rooms, my lords, or would you care for refreshment? Please, ask anything and I shall do all within my power to see it done."
 
"We require four rooms, nothing more," Saori informs the innkeep. She allows her eyes to wander over the room, taking in the atmosphere. The fear of everyone. It isn't right, it isn't proper, and come morning, Saori swears to herself that she will do something about it.

"That will be all for tonight."
 
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"Of course, great Samurai! Of course," Hachiro said, leading the group up the stairs onto the second floor. "Only my finest rooms for such esteemed guests within The Fortune's Cup!"

The rooms were clean and well kept, furnished fine beds and even some artwork in the form of decorated partitions to allow the occupants to block off space. They were painted with scenes of boats and waves, which matched the decorations painted on the low dressers at the foot of each bed. There were also small desks for writing and taking tea, with fine porcelain teapots and cups provided should any wish to brew some.

The Fortune's Cup was obviously quite well off to have such materials at hand, no doubt in large part because of Jouzousho's size and proximity to the road. Along with the existence of the brewery, there could be no doubt that wealth passed easily through the community. The rooms spartan compared to proper Samurai dwellings, of course, but for a village inn it was remarkably well put together.
 
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@Dirtnap @Rook @GilliamYaeger

"This is such a fine establishment, don't you all think? Surely the Otomo's presence can be felt anywhere in this town." Saburou comments casually, taking a seat for himself. His eyes wander around the room while letting his words sink a little, admiring the many delicacies such a room possess. It all reflects a different reality, compared to their last visited village.

It is not enough to distract him from what he has perceived downstairs. The fear concealed beneath the peasant's laughter and joy. Something's wrong around here, pretty much like the rest of the region. Their peace has been taken away, and they can't do much for making it come back.

Is this what Hachiro have perceived on them? An opportunity to make that happen? Perhaps words will have to be held with this peasant. Later, though, after more urgent matters have been properly solved.

Hmm...

@Rook

Letting out a sigh, the Lion Bushi opens his backpack - once made sure no one else were around - and fetches the wakizashi still enveloped in some pieces of cloth. "This is what we have found earlier, Asahina-san." He says while handing it to the shugenja with the upmost care. "Do you recognize the colors in the tsuka?"
 
Shizuka sighs a little, yes the Miya colors are distinctive but really Saburou was asking the Asahina. "Indeed they are, Matsu-san. Which as you can see, Asahina-san, places us in somewhat of a precarious situation."
 
"I can see that," Saori breathes, eyes widening ever so slightly. Everything she has gathered thus far about the happenings in the province from her time there spoke of mere chaos, formless and without apparent pattern. It still is, as near as she can tell, but with another factor - an... Imperial one. The shugenja-ko swallows once, and offers a little smile, more for herself than the Samurai she is speaking to.

"May I ask where you found this?" she asks softly, dreading the answer.
 
"I see." Saori closes her eyes, taking in a deep, steady breath; she's silent for a long moment as her nauseous stomach feels like it's going to abscond through her feet and make its way past the floor. "That is... most unfortunate." The Crane blinks, then shakes her head. Honored ancestors, guide my feet, for I know not the road I walk...

"Well!" she chirps with false cheer, clasping her hands together. "Is there anything else of note, before we retire for the night? We must all rest - and surely you more than I, after a long day filled with, ah, unpleasant discoveries."
 
Shizuka hums thoughtfully, "Other than the villagers being reluctant to share any sort of information about it, there was only the carpenter and his apprentice to note. They had seemed less than pleased with our appearance in the village." The tall woman crosses her arms and looks down at the smaller shugenja. "Nothing untoward happened on our trip to this village and the residence of Otomo-sama."
 
"I am pleased to hear that," Saori says. She purses her lips absently. "I'll be getting up early to attempt and ease the fears of the heimin, and to better understand where they are at. But now it is, I think, a time for sleep instead of discussion. I must bid you goodnight Hida-sama, Akodo-sama, Matsu-sama." She bows in turn to each Samurai before gliding out of the room, mind whirring with thoughts.
 
Shizuka returns the bow from the tiny Shugenja and turns to the rest of the group. "Well I do believe it is time for bed, Matsu-san. Akodo-san." She bows and turns to leave, heavy armor clanking slightly as she enters her own room. What an interesting turn of events. Still I cannot be upset that we have a shugenja with us now.
 
Returning the bow to both Shizuka and Saori as they leave, Saburou turns to Kimiko and lets out a sigh. "Guess we should also get some sleep, isn't it?" He says with a smile. "I wish you have a good night... Kimiko-san."

Bowing to his friend, Saburou promptly turns on his heels and heads towards his own room. His thoughts are a mix of both a quick retelling of today's ocurrences... And a sole, happy realization.

He lets out a more relieved sigh.

She indeed hasn't change at all. Not a single bit.
 
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Having said her goodbyes to her companions as they left, Kimiko sits alone for a few moments before realizing that she's been left alone in the room. "I guess...that means that this is my room?" she says to herself as she stands to get herself ready for bed...
 
Everything was peaceful as night came and went, Hitomi completing her travels across the sky. The noise from the first floor of the inn continued for several hours, but as time went on people wandered off to their beds. They went in groups of two and three, none daring to go alone, but they laughed and smiled as they walked. With cheer and games their tensions had faded away, leaving them content.

At least, for now. But though things were peaceful, tranquility was as ephemeral as smoke. Everyone knew, deep down, that the troubles of the region were not over. Nightmares of murders in the night, and of bloody war, haunted the sleep of many who rested in Yume-do's embrace. They mumbled and cried out in their sleep, fidgeting and thrashing against terrible monsters that existed only in their minds. To them it was a most grateful relief to wake, if only to escape the fears they had fled with drink and games the night before.

So it was that as the sun rose in the east, Yakamo beginning his journey across the heavens, the group of Samurai tasked with ending these worries rose from their beds. The noise from the common room was much quieter than before, but all could smell the scent of fresh food being cooked. Bread was fired up and baked, mixed with sweet jam and honey, while vegetables grilled alongside fish to provide sustenance for the day. There was even the smell of eggs being fried, a fine topping for the rice that even now was being steamed to perfection.

The Fortune's Cup, it seemed, prided itself on more than just its drink if such finely prepared meals were any indication.
 
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Enter Kimiko.

"Aaaah, that smells so delicious~" the large Matsu practically chirps, inhaling the smell as she walks down the stairs. She was planning on stepping outside for her daily practice, but when she notices a certain someone she stops short.

"Oh, Saori-san, you're up early!" Since leaving the Matsu homelands and coming here, she found that she was usually the first to rise among those not of her Clan - its a pleasant surprise to see someone up even earlier than her.
 
Saori looks up from her half-touched meal and blinks, momentarily thrown off by the use of her chosen name. "Good morning, Matsu-sama," she answers, offering a weary, if honest smile and a nod. "I do tend to rise with the light, for the early hours are the most peaceful - especially for meditation." One dainty hand absently pokes at her food, and the shugenja-ko sighs. "Peace is something these people are dearly needing," she continues, pitching her voice low, "and I have attempted to assuage the fear and unease in the village in some small measure. I feel that I have succeeded, to some extent."

Saori ruefully shakes her head. "But that is enough of such talk. We have a busy day ahead of us. Sit with me if you would, Matsu-sama?" She leans forward and winks conspiratorially at Kimiko. "The food tastes as splendid as it smells~"
 
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"Um...'-sama-' is a bit much..." Kimiko says, sitting down next to Saori, "I only finished my Gempekku a few months ago, and I'm sure that using the power of the Kami for the benefit of everyone in the Empire is much more impressive than what I do." Kimiko gives Saori a great big smile. "All I ever learned to do was swing a sword around. And while I like to think I'm very good at it, its something that can only really be used in one way..."

Then the Matsu warrior girl notices someone passing by. "Um, servant-san? Could I have some of that lovely fish I can smell cooking? Oh, and some egg-topped rice to go with it would be lovely!"
 
"Very well. Whatever you prefer, Matsu-san." Saori eyes the warrior as she addresses the servant, her face a pleasant smile even as she inwardly boggles. What kind of Matsu is she!? Deference to peasants? Humility? Good nature? She's nothing like I've heard her family are to be... Whatever it is that compels this strange young woman, Saori doesn't know and doesn't particularly care.

She lets the conversation lull a moment before continuing. "Your ways are not mine," she notes, keeping the disdain out of her voice (for what purpose does one actually require a sword, really?), "but surely they are valuable all the same. The sword may be used in many ways; I might point to the niten of the Mirumoto."

Or the iai of the Kakita, Saori doesn't say, but the thought makes her lips quirk.
 
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"That is true, if a simplification," Saori agrees. This is comfortable, finding purchase in explaining things, and the Asahina smiles warmly as she continues. "For example: the Daidoji of my Clan, they have the sobriquet 'Iron Crane'. The name is earned over again every day; I trust that you know they wage war-" Her nose wrinkles imperceptibly for an eyeblink "-differently from others. They are the defenders of Doji, and to defend the Crane specifically is their aim.

"In this they are similar to the Mirumoto," she recites, leaning forward slightly, "for as Mirumoto once said, 'two swords serve their lord better than one'. One's aim is to defend at all costs; the other is to serve as best as can be through more steel." Saori pauses, eyeing Kimiko. "I am lead to understand that the Matsu think of things... differently, in this regard."
 
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"Yes, our view of things is quite simple," Kimiko says, nodding. "One can't hurt you, or anyone else for that matter, if they are already dead."
 
Your views in particular it seems, Saori refrains from saying, opting instead to nod. "'In simplicity there is honor,'" she says softly,a mischievous glint in her eyes.
 
"Ooooh, I like that!" Kimiko says, with a smile that seems to brighten up the room. "It sounds like something, uh, that someone very wise would say!"

Wow, I'm actually discussing worldly matters with a shujenja of all people, and she hasn't laughed at me once! Kimiko thinks with joy, See, sensei? I'm not as stupid as you think!
 
"Why, I suppose it does, Matsu-san. You're absolutely right." Saori lets out a delighted little laugh. She covers her mouth with one slight hand, and silently shakes with laughter for a moment, before it subsides.

Wiping away a tear, she sighs and regards Kimiko with a warm, wide grin. Honored ancestors and Thousand Fortunes above, have mercy on my immortal soul, but I like her. The Matsu! "It takes a wisdom all your own to recognize the wisdom you come across in passing," she says fondly. "You have such."
 
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