[X] Finish your bath and head to court.
For a brief moment you consider asking Shirou about his father. Your friend said he traveled with him, which strikes you as odd considering peasants aren't allowed such free movement within the Empire. Could Shirou's father have been a Samurai, then?
But then your curiosity passes. There is little time for such things now, and the question would be rude in any case. At least, you think it would be so. You and Shirou have grown quite close over the last several months. Would he truly take offense if you asked him directly about his childhood?
You shake your head, ridding yourself of the thought. Court will be in session soon, and you must be there when it begins. Everything else is secondary to your duty.
The next several minutes pass swiftly as you finish scrubbing, wash yourself off and take a quick soak in the tub. Shirou joins you, of course, but aside from some small talk there is no further conversation of real note. Soon enough you are out of the bath and back in your quarters, putting on your best hakama and kimono.
Granted, that isn't saying much. Both articles of clothing are unadorned and simple, save for your Clan and School mon emblazoned on the kimono. It is a utilitarian outfit, but it will serve you will considering the duty you must uphold. You belt your swords and tetsubo, and then make your exit.
Yasuki Goro is waiting for you in the hall as you step outside, closing the door to his room. His own is the same color as your own, blue and black, but of far better quality. It is made of fine silk, shining in the light, and he wears a fine black haori over it all. In his crossed arms he holds a folded fan, which he taps on the inside of his elbow as he looks at you.
"Good," he says. "I see you have prepared. Let us be off, then."
A servant leads you up two flights of stairs and toward a large set of doors. Emblazoned on them is the mon for the Kitsuki Family, the symbol crafted of gold and the eyes of the Dragon made from emeralds. It is, frankly, almost shocking in its opulence. It's the most ostentatious thing you've seen while staying here, aside from the hot spring.
The Servant opens the doors, revealing a large room set with a long table in the middle. The Mons of both the Dragon and the Kitsuki are set within it, so deep and black they looked part of the table itself rather than painted ornamentation. At the far end is a small throne crafted of dark wood with silver inlaid at the rests.
A lean, older man sits there looking at you with strikingly keen eyes. His short-cropped beard is black mixed with grey, and his temples bear similar colors. The man's age, however, does nothing to take away from the whipcord strength you detect in his frame. This is, without doubt, Kitsuki Ryojiro, the daimyo of the Kitsuki Family.
"It is my pleasure to introduce the honorable Yasuki Goro-sama, of the esteemed Crab Clan," the servant calls out. "Along with his escort, the honorable Hiruma Sosuke-sama!"
"My greetings to you, Kitsuki-sama," Yasuki Goro says, bowing to the Daimyo. "And my most sincere thanks for the hospitality you have shown us."
You join your superior in bowing, and as you rise you notice that you are not the only ones in the room. There are several groups lingering about, conversing with themselves and observing the others. Many do not seem to be of the Dragon Clan, however. They glance at you as you come in, but swiftly return to their own business.
"No thanks are necessary, Yasuki-san," Ryojiro responds, his voice surprisingly soft. It carries across the room well enough despite that, however. "It must never be said that the Dragon are poor hosts."
"If such lies are ever spoken, they will not be from my lips, Kitsuki-sama," Yasuki Goro says. "My time here within your lands has been nothing but the definition of satisfying."
"Then I am glad, Yasuki-san," Ryojiro replies. "We shall begin in but a few moments." He waves a hand at the room. "Please, take your ease."
"I shall do so gratefully, Kitsuki-sama," your lord says back, bowing again. A motion you join him in. "Thank you."
The pleasantries finished, you have a chance to properly look about the room. There are a number of Samurai here, mostly comprised of various Families of the Dragon. You see straight-backed Mirumoto looking around the room with sharp eyes, hands near their swords. Hanabi is among them, and she smiles at you so widely she almost lights up the room. There are, of course, Kitsuki about, and you even notice a few of the Togashi Tattooed Monks in the corner.
But as you noticed earlier, there are other groups as well. Five Samurai in bright orange and yellow stand together, three of them obviously Yojimbo. You cannot see the other two past them, though from the way the bodyguards are standing they must be people of some import. That makes them a large contingent, and rather well guarded. Perhaps they are more than mere diplomats?
Near them, you see two people in light blue and silver colors. A beautiful woman with white hair is standing next to a rather stern looking fellow who is making sure to always have a hand near his sword. He's trying to look everywhere at once, and doing a fairly good job of it. His charge, meanwhile, merely smiles behind an upraised fan. These would be members of the Crane Clan, and you can't help a scowl at their presence.
On the other side of the room are three people in black and red, each of them wearing masks. Only one of them appears to be a Yojimbo, however, with the other two wearing only wakazashi as befits their status as Samurai. The apparent leader of the group, a tall man with short hair framing a pointed face, has his eyes firmly locked on the Crane contingent.
And finally, there stand three people wearing brown and yellow. One of them is Kitsu Himawari, and she is speaking with a short, animated woman who is chuckling and nodding at the Shugenja's words. The diplomat's bodyguard is a woman just as tall as you are, and by her appearance even more muscled. She's doing her level best to glare at everyone in the room, and you get the impression she doesn't wish to be here. Considering Lion temperaments, this might be because of the presence of the Scorpion and the Crane.
Or she could just always be in a bad mood. It's hard to tell sometimes just what will annoy the Lion, specifically the Matsu. They just always seem ready to yell at someone. That, or hit them.
"So, Sosuke-san," Yasuki Goro whispers. "I would know your thoughts. Shall we speak a while with our fellow guests, or should we simply sit at the table and wait for Kitsuki-sama to begin the proceedings?"
[] Suggest approaching one of the groups. (Pick one.)
[] Suggest just sitting at the table for now.
[] Write in.
