Furi believes that the Emerald Champion has a double. One like the double of himself that Jekusu killed. So back into the city Fuji, Jekusu and I went; looking for Doji Satsume. Ruling out his quarters, we headed for the docks. At the docks, someone bumped into Jekusu and she hollered bloody murder. I jumped aside with the crowd and saw whom she was yelling at. Bayushi Sugai. The lying cheating bastard scorpion who cheated at our gemmpuku and has appeared occasionally since. He was dressed as a heinen. Jekusu pretended she didn't know who he was and threatened him for bumping into her. He then pulled a pistol on her. She leaped to the side, and the bulled hit an innocent woman nearby. Everything happened so fast! Sugai was off like lightening. I jumped to aid the wounded woman and Jekusu took off after Sugai. Fuji asked me what he should do. I could tell he wanted to kick Sugai in the teeth, and he's no help in healing, so I told him to find that man. He gladly took off running through the crowd.
After making sure the woman was stable, I followed in the direction that Jekusu and Fuji ran. I came upon a stack of crates, and there was a piece of a broken katana sticking out of it. Just then, Fuji rounded the corner and urgently told me Jekusu needed my help. We rushed down the docks and entered a large warehouse. I entered, and Jekusu was lying on the ground, bleeding profusely. I could see upstairs that there were six Gaijin barrels stacked. They looked familiar - like the barrels of black powder that we took from the army in the Unicorn Lands.
I nudged Fuji, who looked confused. I had to explain to him what they were, and to go check them out while I took care of Jekusu. She was in bad shape. Apparently she followed Bayushi Sugai to the warehouse, and was about to take him down when a Dragon Clan bushi struck from behind. She had a large slash across her back. She would have been killed, had Sugai not run away to "finish loading the boats," as Jekusu said the Dragon had told him, and if Fuji hadn't arrived just in time. He smashed the Dragon's head in with a huge jar of rice. An entire koku worth...best koku he ever spent.
The three of us discussed the six barrels, which we confirmed held black powder. Fuji took the barrels, and hid them in the cellar of a nearby sake bar, while Jekusu went in search for the dock master, to find out who's barrels they were. I continued our search for Doji Satsume.
I found the Emerald Champion returning from one of the ships in the bay on a longboat. He waved to me, and I waited on the dock for him. He seemed a little surprised at my searching him out. I apologized to him for my earlier snippy behavior in the library. He hastily accepted, saying that scholars have their quirks. I asked him if he would come out of the city and speak to his brother, Furi. It's still hard to imagine the two of them as brothers. Satsume looked a little put back, and surprised that I know his brother. He agreed to talk to him tomorrow, on the condition that I return to the castle, and have dinner with him… and stay the night at the castle. I can't even begin to imagine what his motives are, but I had to agree. He must talk to his brother. I do this for the Empire.
I met back with Fujizaka and Jekusu, who had a discussion with the dock master. It seems that Fuji threatened the man, and knocked him off the dock, into the water when he wasn't prepared to be helpful. I guess Jekusu's introduction of herself, as the Daimyo of the Eagle Clan was not impressive to him. I like her clan name. She has chosen well. Fuji was in bad humor on the way back to the camp though. He seems distracted and aggressive.
Fuji immediately retreated to his tent with two bottles of sake. I asked Jekusu what was wrong. It seems while chasing Bayushi Sugai, Fuji ran into the crates on the dock, and broke his ancestral sword. It was his sword sticking out of that crate! Hesitantly, I entered his tent.
He looked up from where he sat. The hilt of his broken sword lay in front of him. He asked me to leave, claiming to want to be alone. I agreed to leave, if that was what he really wanted. He muttered something about how he should never leave the Crab Lands, for every time he does, he dishonors his family. He began ranting about failing his gemmpuku, and now breaking an irreplaceable sword.
I explained to him that without him leaving the Crab Lands, we would all have failed our quests long ago. We would have died at the hands of those under the black mon. He sighed and invited me in for a drink. I agreed, but told him I had something better than sake that I'd like to share with him. He asked me if I had shochu, his eyes lighting up. I shook my head, and said it was even better than shochu.
I left the tent, and returned shortly after with the bottle of Gaijin sake that the Iuchi Daimyo had given me. He had set out a very nice sake set while I was gone. It was obviously the work of a talented Crane Artisan. The ceramic cups were nearly paper thin, and the flowers painted on them seemed to change colors in the light. He explained that it had been a wedding gift. I felt a pang of jealousy, but realized how greedy that is. His wife never got the chance to enjoy this gift, and it would be a pity for such beautiful work to go unappreciated. I sat, and he opened the funny shaped bottle.
I sipped the amber colored liquid gingerly. Its smell was fine and sweet. It slid onto my tongue with smooth syrupy sweetness. It's savory taste filled my mouth with exquisite tongue tingling sensations. Then it hit my throat. Like fire, it tore down my esophagus and into my belly. When I gained control of myself, I looked up at Fuji, who was beaming. He agreed that it was better than even shochu. He drank about four glasses to my one, and decided it was time to put the bottle away. The bottle's neck was not even empty, let alone the round bottom of it.
We lie together on his futon… until Jekusu interrupted us, saying that Kuno was back and we were having a meeting in her tent. I cannot wait for the day she is in such a position that I would take great pleasure in interrupting her.Kuno's news was not good. Many creatures ransacked Asami's home. All the servants lie dead. They had attacked by coming through a circle, using the archways that I tried so hard, so many times, to keep out of the hands of the shadow. The circle was set up right in her garden. They didn't even need to break down the gate. Kuno's sister Kimi and Asami were missing. At least they were not there. That means that there is a chance that they live. Scouts have also spotted an army moving toward Otosan Uchi, under Calimari's order.
The translator from Ryoko Owari brought out a paper that he had managed to translate from the Goblin scrolls. It contained a list of names that were mentioned often in regards to a conspiracy with the shadow, against the Emperor. I took the list and studied the names. My heart nearly stopped. Doji Satsume, Doji Hoturi, Kakita Toshimoko, Matsu Tsuke and Bayushi Sugai are all in on it. How can I dine with Satsume this evening, with solid proof against his treacheries? He must speak with Furi, so I must do this… and I must tell Fuji about it. After discussing the list for a few minutes, we decided to confer with Furi. His army of one thousand men was camped nearby, and after only a short walk, we discussed the problem with Furi. I still don't know what his clan name is.
Our conclusion to our problem never came, as far as I'm concerned. Fuji, Jekusu and Kuno are going to the docks to find out from the dock master who's property the black powder was, and to sneak onto the huge Gaijin ship that the cruise is to take place on. Fuji was very upset when I told him I had to return to the castle to have dinner with Doji Satsume.
He insists I take Kakita Mizake as a retainer. As we were leaving Furi's camp, someone was following us. Kuno asked Fuji what to do about it. He turned and groaned. He doubled back and returned with the soldier. She is a samurai-ko of the Crab Clan. She is to join Mizake as a retainer. And she is Fuji's sister. I have heard of her before… she has a reputation of being… well… a tramp of sorts. She seems a bit arrogant - but I suppose that comes with being a crab. I'm afraid of how she will judge me. I have torn her family apart. How will she ever be able to accept me?
Furi wanted to join our ventures in the city, but he would be killed on sight, so I insisted he stay out. Mizake and Hida-san are enough for me. I changed into my one good kimono; the one Asami bought me. I fear it is a bit revealing, and does not fit in with the atmosphere that I hope to set with this dinner, but I could not dine with the Emerald Champion in traveling clothes. While we were readying to go into the city, I asked Fuji to recover the broken piece of his katana that was left in the crate at the docks. I believe that with enough planning, meditation and power, I may be able to mend the broken sword.