12th Day of the Boar (Afternoon)
Fortunately, arranging a meeting with Ikoma Genji is relatively simple. He is still an attendee of the court, and while there are no doubt some among your fellow guests who are trying to deduce the hidden meaning behind his every last move, sometimes even a respected karo can simply desire friendly conversation.
"I understand that your lord is keeping you quite busy." He comments as you walk through the corridors of Shiro Matsu. The trick is not to find somewhere that you cannot be overheard, but rather to find somewhere where only those loyal to your fellow conspirators could possibly overhear - a much easier proposition in a place like this than, say, Kyuden Bayushi. Of course just about anywhere is an easier place to keep a secret than Kyuden Bayushi, but that's besides the point.
"Hai, Ikoma-sama." You reply, and you don't have to fake the slight edge of fatigue in your words. "I have no doubt my training will make me a better samurai, but it does demand a significant investment of time. Which reminds me - I believe I may have come up with a solution to that riddle you asked me the other day."
"Oh?" Genji says casually, raising an eyebrow. "That was fast. Clearly, I shall have to make the next one harder."
You wince slightly, in order to convey to any watchers that this is simply an ongoing challenge between the two of you. Games of riddles and other mental challenges are a reasonably common pastime at court, so it shouldn't stand out too much. "Well, perhaps - I should hate to tarnish my reputation in your eyes. Maybe I will take another few days to consider it at length. That said, I think some of my companions might appreciate the opportunity to try their own luck at something similar. Would you happen to have any more riddles, in the same style, that they might be able to attempt?"
Ikoma Genji is an intelligent man trained in a school that emphasizes the ability to hold and compare large quantities of knowledge in one's memory. It does not take him long to piece together the true meaning of your request, and after a long pause he inclines his head. "I imagine that would be possible. Give me a day or two to find something appropriate."
Meaning that he doesn't have any of the letters on-hand and will need to speak to his 'old friend' in order to acquire a sample for comparison. Not perfect, but good enough.
-/-
13th Day of the Boar
As was perhaps to be expected, some of the closeness you were developing with Doji Mariko has receded after the rather dramatic ending to the Festival. She is still willing to speak with you, and indeed at the moment the two of you are playing Go on the balcony overlooking the main court chamber, but there is a certain reserve to her now that was not visible beforehand. She still seems fond of you, but equally there is a bond of some kind between her and Sekawa - forged by long association if nothing else. You suspect that she is currently feeling somewhat torn between the two of you, so out of respect for her evident desires you dial back the quiet flirting and suggested intimacy.
Sometimes, someone just needs a little bit of space while they get their feelings in order. In the mean-time, Mariko is slowly improving as a Go player, and her progress is equally apparent to the both of you.
"Thank you for taking the time to tutor me, Soshi-san." She says with a soft smile, placing down one of her pieces on the game board. "I know you have many constraints upon your free time of late."
"Less than you might expect, Doji-sama." You counter, laying down your own piece before nodding in the direction of the vacant throne at the far end of the hall. "With the honored Daimyo otherwise occupied, my courtly duties are not as time consuming as they might otherwise be."
Mariko looks at you for a moment, no doubt sensing that there is more to the comment than meets the eye, and nods. "True. I wonder what our honourable host is occupied with?"
"Personal training, as I understand it. As to be expected of the Matsu." You reply casually, before dropping your voice to a subtle whisper as you convey the truly important part. "Along with Matsu Heijiko."
Mariko pauses, all visible motion locked away behind a perfectly composed mask. She considers the board between you for a moment, then sets down her stone to one side. "I yield. Thank you for the game, Soshi-san. It was... enlightening."
"Any time, Doji-sama." You reply, and struggle to keep your thoughts hidden as Mariko turns and leaves the balcony. Well, you've passed on your message, and there isn't really enough time left to do anything else. Hopefully it is enough.
-/-
Fourteenth Day of the Boar
You return to Shiro Matsu in a thoughtful mood. Ikoma Ganyu was quite willing to accept your invitation to the theater, and sufficiently impressed with the Five Arches that he allowed his tongue to loosen somewhat. Apparently Pale Oak has already made good on his promise to provide extra Heimin scribes to the magistrates, and Ganyu for one is exceptionally glad of the assistance. He won't talk about ongoing cases casually, but you get the impression he might be willing to discuss specific incidents if you ask politely. Another useful resource you may be able to call upon in the future.
The play that you saw was a romantic tragedy - a common enough tale in a land where the blessing of Benten is so often associated with trouble and the breaking of hearts. It centered around a Lion samurai of unknown family named 'Arimi', and the secret lover that she frequently visited whenever her duties as a karo left her able. Perhaps inevitably the affair was eventually found out and Arimi was disgraced before the court of her lord, who was so incensed that he not only commanded her to commit seppuku but gave her a wooden blade. Even in the lands of the Scorpion you know such an action as a mortal insult, for a wooden sword implies that you are either too dishonourable or simply too cowardly to actually go through with the deed.
You must remember to commend the actress who played Arimi, for the sheer impact of the scene when she performed the three cuts with the wooden sword in front of the entire court was astounding. The Lion samurai watching it with you appeared to be profoundly affected by the display, and solemnly approving of the message their unknown ancestor sought to teach with her last breath.
It is, perhaps, a very Lion decision to remember such a woman in the same way as honoured war heroes.
Still, you have little enough time for such thoughts now. Ahead of you a crowd has gathered around the perimeter of one of the parade squares, and through the gap in their ranks you believe you can see Kakita Sekawa preparing for his duel with Matsu Heijiko. The sense of anticipation is thick upon the air.
What do you want to do?
[ ] Observe the duel.
- [ ] Stand with your fellow Scorpion, so that you might better coordinate your response to whatever happens.
- [ ] Stand near Doji Mariko, to offer her some degree of support.
- [ ] Stand near the Lion, so you can read and perhaps influence their reaction to the whole affair.
- [ ] Stand somewhere else (write in)
[ ] Do not observe the duel. Do something else instead. (Write in)
