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Blood and Secrets (Legend of the Five Rings)

"Please don't hurt him!" Kairi shrieked as she ran over to kneel by Ota with tears in her eyes. She reached out a hand to touch her son, but flinched back as Kimiko restrained him. "Please, I... Forgive me, Samurai-samas, but I don't understand! What is going on?"

Ota, meanwhile, remained silent save for the occasional grunt of pain as Kimiko settled her weight on top of him. He glared at the Samurai as best he could, his breathing quick like that of a trapped animal. His eyes darted around wildly, and he pushed back against Kimiko with as much force as he could muster... But it was no use. Robust he may have been from a life spent doing labor, his strength was not enough to overcome the Lion Samurai.
 
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"What happened, Kairi, is that your son decided to withhold information from us. And leave without being dismissed. And assault a Samurai who, I might remind you, is working under the direct authority of Miya-dono himself." Shizuka says slowly as she walks up to the scene. She shakes her head, "Truly, I do not know what he may have been thinking." The Crab woman scowls down at the writhing form of Ota pinned under Kimiko. Damn fool of a peasant.
 
"Kairi-san." Saori exhales, lowering her hands. Her expression is cool, but her tone is not unkind. "Please calm yourself. Everything will work out just fine." She glides forward, eating up the distance with surprising alacrity, until she stands before Ota. The shugenja-ko sighs, brushing one lock of hair away from her face, and she looks down her nose at the peasant, utterly expressionless.

"I want you to realize something, Ota-san," she says softly. She folds her arms. "The kami see, hear, remember everything. The spirits in the knife found it appropriate to impart wisdom of the blasphemy that they were forced to take part in. To take a life." Saori pauses, here, to let her words sink in. "They told me of the age and build of the attacker."

Then, she sighs. "I do not like what I see. I do not like when peasants that I assume are good people disappoint me by assaulting their superiors after lying to them. I will give you one chance to cooperate and tell us everything you may know or suspect, to whatever extent... and then I give you my word: I will do everything in my power to make sure any response any response shall be proportionate as Asahina himself would see it."
 
"I didn't do anything!" Ota yelled, struggling in vain against Kimiko's grip. "You're all talking like I did something bad and I don't know what any of this is about!" He growled and strained, pushing every ounce of strength against the barrier that was Kimiko before slumping to the ground. He looked toward his mother, utterly drained. "Mom... Mom, help me. Please..."

"Ota..." Kairi whispered, clutching one hand to her chest and laying another on her son's head. "Ota, just do what the Samurai say. Please, please just do what the Samurai say and everything will be all right."

"I didn't do anything," he mumbled, pressing his face into the dirt as tears came. "I don't know what's going on."
 
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"Ota-san."Saori lets some warmth suffuse her voice at last. Please, you stupid boy. "Tell me what you know about this knife and the act. One chance."
 
"I don't know anything," Ota mumbled, not looking up at Saori. "I didn't do whatever it is you're saying I did."
 
At that, any lingering hope Saori possess for getting Ota out of this unharmed in some capacity is extinguished, and the Asahina turns her back to him. Her voice is quiet. "Very well. So be it."
 
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Ota didn't reply, instead just staying limp as Kimiko continued to hold him down. He sniffled as he cried, his tears churning the dust of the street into mud. He was obviously in pain, both from the strike Saori had delivered and from Kimiko's weight on his back, and with every little cry his mother flinched. She held a hand beneath tight lips, trembling with fear even as she kept her other hand on the back of her son's head.

"This can't be happening," Kairi whispered. "Oh Fortunes, this can't be happening."
 
@Winged Knight
"Unfortunately it is, Kairi." Shizuka says quietly. "I have no reason to want to see your son in this position. He has made his choices however and thus has forced into this position." Turning away from the peasant Shizuka eyes Saburou.
@EtchedSteel
"Akodo-san, the assault was made against you. Is there anything you wish to be done?"
 
"Now that you mention it, Hida-san; yes, I have." Saburou reponds quickly, having used this last hectic moments to compose himself. He takes a few steps closer to the now retrained peasant with katana in hand, his reformed On perfectly kept though his eyes are burning with anger.

The tip of his blade points right between Ota's eyes.

"You should have followed your esteemed mother's advice, young one. This could have been prevented if you had not forgotten who you were talking to, but since you're still unwilling to cooperate..." He slightly leans his weapon, the sharp tip opening an insignificant wound and tasting the peasant's blood.

His next words sounds like a whisper.

"Then perhaps it's time to look for someone who can make you talk. That is... unless you wish to pass to your next life."

And with that, Saburou places his katana back on it's sheath with a quick motion. He lets out a sigh before craning his head up to look at his companions.

"Let's bring this man to the Doshin. They would know what to do with him."
 
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Kimiko gives Saburou a simple nod before she hauls the boy up to his feet. "Please, do not make this any more difficult than it has to be," she says from behind him, briefly tightening her grip on him to emphasise the point. While she does try her best not to make the hold painful, she hopes that she's made it very clear that can change at any time.

There's a part of her that hopes he does make trouble, so she can take the anger she felt at seeing Saburou attacked out on the boy, but both her nature and her training smother that impulse. She's unhappy enough that things have gotten to this point as it is.
 
Shizuka nods to Saburou and looks to the tiny Crane, "Asahina-sama, we should return and give this boy to the doushin. There is still much to check on in this town." Still much to do before we can move on to the next problem, Shizuka sighs internally.
 
"As you will, Hida-sama." Saori closes her eyes tightly shut for a moment, drawing in a slow breath. "We have work yet to do." She repeats that to herself a few times, under her breath, before nodding briskly. "Let us continue."
 
The group make their way back to the Doshin's office, their new 'friend' in tow and his clearly distraught mother following at a distance, careful not to get too close in case she angers the samurai holding her son. Though Ota makes the occasional attempt to break free of Kimiko, her grip is like iron and each attempt only results in Kimiko growling lightly and briefly tightening her grip. By the time they've filed into the Doshin's office he's seemingly given up on struggling against the significantly larger Lion samurai-ko.

This time, Kimiko decides to remain silent. She's in the presence of a potential enemy after all.
 
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No one bothered the companions as they walked, the peasants moving along their business quickly as to get out of sight. Only a fool would wish to incur the kind of terrible wrath a Samurai might deliver when their ire was up, much less four of them. Ire that was already directed at one poor unfortunate, who struggled weakly and in vain against his bonds.

Those fleeing peasants did their best not to give notice him. The boy had angered Samurai, and as such he was almost certainly doomed. Those who lived among society's upper reaches were rarely forgiving. There was no use paying attention to one so wretched, and so they did not.

All save for his mother, who wept as she followed in the wake of their judgement.

"Greetings, Samurai-samas!" the Doshin Shin called from the door as the group approached. His smile faded once he saw the struggling Ota, and he rested a hand on his jitte. "Is there an issue, honored lords?"
 
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Shizuka nods to the Doshin. "Possibly. This boy...reacted negatively when questioned about the knife. He decided that idiocy was the better part of valor and threw a basket of food at my Lion friend here." She motions to Saburou and continues, "Then attempted to flee. Needless to say he did not get too far."

The big Crab crosses her arms over her chest and looks to Saburou, hoping that the Lion's anger has cooled a bit. "I won't be the one to pass judgement on him, though. I will that up to Akodo-san."
 
"My thank you, Hida-san," Saburou says, nodding to the tall Crab before glancing back at the Doshin. The walk across the streets of Jouzousho has been enough for the Lion to cool off most of his anger, his gaze displaying a tranquil fury instead. "Like my partner said, this heimin attempted to hamper our ongoing investigation by refusing to cooperate, to the point of going as far as to attack one of us."

He then looks at Ota, a brief glance that is enough to flare up some of his initial anger. "We believe he holds vital information regarding the identity of who used this knife for such an atrocious act, and thus I'd like to request your aid, esteemed Doshin-san-," Saburou glances back at Shin. "-In getting out what this boy knows. By any means, if you must."
 
"I... of course, Samurai," Shin responded, blanching as he noticed just how young Ota was. He took a moment to visibly steel himself. "We'll have an Eta with the appropriate... training, called over immediately and see what answers we can find."

"Please don't hurt my son!" Kairi cried out, tears streaming down her face. She rushed close, almost throwing herself at the Doshin's feet. "Please! He didn't mean to do anything wrong!"

Shin blinked, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to understand just what was going on. Then Kairi's words sunk in, and his face paled. He held his hands up as if to ward away the crying woman, obviously at a loss. Then Matsui stepped up behind him and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"We're just going to ask your son some questions, miss," Matsui said, moving past Shin to address the woman. Bondo came up behind him, quirking an eyebrow at the proceedings. "The esteemed Samurai have given their decision on the matter, and we don't want to hurt the boy if it's not necessary. He'll just need to stay with us for a while. Do you understand?"

Kairi sniffled and nodded, taking a moment to wipe away her tears. Matsui directed her away from the office, motioning surreptitiously with his free hand for Bondo to take Ota. The other Doshin grabbed the boy's arms and dragged him away from Kimiko, forcing him inside and toward the cells.

"Well," Shin said, a touch breathless. "That was... something."
 
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"Yes. Quite." In spite of her best efforts, Saori is visibly pale. She's torn; the fool boy assaulted his superiors. That demands justice. Yet she has not, and will not ever be able to stomach the thought of eta... doing their duties. "Excuse me, please, Shin-san. Hida-sama. Akodo-sama, Matsu-sama." She bows once before retreating out of the office, after Matsui and Kairi.

"Allow us a moment, if you would." A dainty flick of her wrist, and Saori dismisses the doshin to leave her with the distraught woman. She glides smoothly over, pursing her lips.

After a pregnant pause, she speaks. "Please. Walk with me outside."
 
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Kimiko watches as the boy is taken from her arms and led into a cell. She's been unhappy about things have turned out since the group met him. Between Saburou being attacked by the foolish peasant and the guilt she's been feeling from the mothers obvious torment, she feels surprisingly helpless, something she's not really felt since she became a true warrior of the Lion. Even in the rare social situation where everything went over her head, she could trust that someone else knew what to do. But, here... ...you're being unworthy, Kimiko, you can trust that the Doshin will do the right thing with the boy. There's a good chance he's a murderer, and he was unruly enough to physically assault his betters despite knowing the consequences. Your duty here is to see justice done for the people of the Empire, and the Doshin will not err. Compassion has its time and place, but there is no room for it here, the Matsu's training tells her, even as she tries desperately to ignore the knot in her stomach whenever she thinks about poor Kairi. She manages to hide her concerns well, though, behind the cold mask that has taken the place of the unflinching smile that almost never leaves her face.

Despite this, Kimiko can't help but feel concerned as Saori takes Kairi aside. She hopes that the Asahina will manage to bring some measure of comfort to the woman. She then looks to Saburou for some sort of reaffirmation, an unspoken question in her heart. We're doing the right thing, aren't we?
 
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Trusting that Saori will manage to reassure the woman, Saburou slightly turns his head upon feeling this funny sensation of someone looking at him directly, where he meets Kimiko's gaze. He can't help but blink once at those concerned eyes, his anger completely quenched by now, knowing that Ota's offense will meet an appropiate punishment while hoping the doshin will manage to get whatever information the boy holds with the Eta's assistance.

Is by now when he also feels some uneasiness growing in his stomach, realizing what that could mean. An unpleasant procedure, inflicted on a boy so young... none of this is really neccesary. This couldn't have been prevented if the boy have worked with them in first place. This one is on him completely.

Saburou blinks again, supressing his anger once more. He knows better than to fall into the sin of regret. This is neccesary now. Neccesary to further their duty with Miya Anshou, with the Province.

With the Lion Clan above these.

Such is what his sensei would say.

He manages to keep a neutral, seemingly uncaring face - one that looks calm and secure while slowly nodding at Kimiko before turning back to look at the Doshin.

We're doing the right thing. For the good of all.
 
@Rook

Kairi did not deny the Samurai her wishes, of course, though she looked behind briefly toward the office as the Asahina led her away. The peasant woman wrung her hands, an obvious sign of her distress if the tears going down her face did not make that plain. It was such a blatant display of emotion, so much raw grief that it stood out against the reserved stoicism the Samurai held.

Such rules of decorum were more lax for peasants, of course, for they were not of the exalted position that Saori and her compatriots enjoyed. But even still, it was a boorish display. Even those other peasants brave enough to remain on the street during all the commotion stopped and stared at the woman as she so obviously gave in to her sorrow.

"Will Ota be all right, Samurai-sama?" she asked, her voice raw from sobbing. "He's a good boy, I swear! He didn't mean any harm."
 
Winged Knight said:
@Rook

Kairi did not deny the Samurai her wishes, of course, though she looked behind briefly toward the office as the Asahina led her away. The peasant woman wrung her hands, an obvious sign of her distress if the tears going down her face did not make that plain. It was such a blatant display of emotion, so much raw grief that it stood out against the reserved stoicism the Samurai held.

Such rules of decorum were more lax for peasants, of course, for they were not of the exalted position that Saori and her compatriots enjoyed. But even still, it was a boorish display. Even those other peasants brave enough to remain on the street during all the commotion stopped and stared at the woman as she so obviously gave in to her sorrow.

"Will Ota be all right, Samurai-sama?" she asked, her voice raw from sobbing. "He's a good boy, I swear! He didn't mean any harm."
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Saori does not answer immediately; instead she gestures, then guides the distraught woman away from the street to where they have some measure of privacy, before speaking. "I believe you. He doesn't seem bad." She sighs. "Irreverent. Disrespectful. Angry and scared - these words seem more fitting. And, were I to make a wager, misguided."

Saori cocks her head to the side. "I asked him again and again, to help me help him. He will have to face consequences for what he's done. However..." The priestess' eyes harden. "I do not intend to see more people die. Something is sick in the land of Naishou." She motions with a hand to the grass, trees, and to the sky. "Everyone--and everything--feels its touch.

"He knows something. I wish he didn't. But at worst, your son has done the unspeakable, and at best he plays a dangerous game... Kairi-san. You say he is a good boy." She shakes her head, praying that her hunch will pay off.

"'If you lay down with beasts, you may find yourself with fleas'. The wisdom of Shinsei is always pertinent. Has there anyone new in Ota's life that may have.... Mislead him? Manipulated him?" Her voice is gentle. "Please, I know this must be hard, but I need you to think."
 
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"Ma... Manipulated him, Samurai-sama?" Kairi asked, her voice hitching as she forced the words out through her tears. "I... I'm not sure that I know of anyone like that. I bet that damned brewery had something to do with this, though."

She sniffled, and rubbed her eyes on the sleeve of her cotton kosode. The peasant woman seemed more composed when she dropped her arm, or at the very least her distress was hidden behind old frustrations coming to the forefront. No matter the reason, when she spoke again her voice was much stronger and clearer than it had been before.

"Ota used to be such a bright, open boy when he was younger," Kairi went on. "He wasn't so angry and sullen like he is now. I know all children get surly around his age, but he almost seemed an entirely different person after he began working at the brewery."
 
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@GilliamYaeger @Dirtnap

Saburou turns to look at Kimiko after a while, feeling there's something else needing to be said. He can't really tell why, but seeing his friend without that smile adorning her face doesn't feel right. The Lion opens his mouth, but then he takes a deep breath before speaking. "I want to express my gratitude to you both, Matsu and Hida-san, for your aid in seizing the suspect. Let's hope our investigation doesn't have much incidents."

He turns to nod at Shizuka befor looking back at the Lion. He smiles at her, if only for a brief instant. "That said, I hope young Ota hasn't given you much trouble on our way back here, Matsu-san."
 
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