Togashi Amadan, known as Shosuro Kage to some, but as Kitsuki Retsu to the Imperial Court as of yesterday, quickly closed the window behind him and began to strip off his ninja garb. "Nothing," he spat, and Tashiro could tell the hints of frustration in the gaijin's voice. Amadan walked over to the cabinet that held their clothes and began to put on the robes of an ambassador. "I spent the entire night avoiding the Emperor's personal guard, dogs, lights, and armorous diplomats in the garden. And I have nothing to show for it," he reached into a pouch on his ninja costume, "except this," he showed Tashiro a small glass vial with traces of a light red liquid on it.
"Poison," Tashiro said, placing his blade in his obi.
"Hai," Amadan responded, handing it to him, "Which is even more frustrating, because I do not recognize it."
"Nor do I," Tashiro furrowed his eyes, sniffing it. "Where did you find it?" the Scorpion asked, handing the vial back to Amadan.
"In the gardens," The scout motioned to the main garden of the Imperial Court. "Behind a bush. I thought at first that it was sloppy of whoever to leave behind such evidence, then it occured to me it wouldn't matter if no one could identify it..." His voice trailed off as he turned to fetch a green hakama.
Tashiro looked at the gaijin's back, and for the split second it was bare, he saw a great tattoo of a water kanji formed of breaking waves. The archer averted his eyes, and spoke quietly, "And I'm sure they didn't consider ninja would be searching the gardens for such things, Dragon."
Amadan smirked as he turned around, and began to place the black mask that identified him as Kitsuki Retsu on his face. "True," He tucked the folds of the mask under the neckline of his robes, and fetched a wide jingasa. "What did Ikoma Hatori-san wish to say?" he asked. The Lion ambassador had visited them the previous evening, just as Amadan had began to don his ninja garb. A quiet and hasty exit had kept the gaijin's secret safe for the time.
Tashiro's eyes lit up, "Hatori and much insight for us, Amadan," he began, and recounted the night's events to the gaijin. The Lion had spoken of his suspicions of assassins and traitors in the Imperial Court, and how his assisstant, Saidoka, was actually another Scorpion in hiding.
"I see," Amadan said, "I spent the entire night scouring for something to lead me to Toturi's kidnappers, and find nothing." He straightened his robes, "You, however, stayed in the room all night and allowed such things to simply come to you." He smiled, and the two men had a quiet laugh as Tashiro began to dress as a Mirumoto samurai. Amadan shook his head, "Sometimes I wonder what is would be like to have Mitsu-sensei to hear things like that and laugh. Or even-" The gaijin stopped himself from saying Agasha Tamori's name.
"Who?" Tashiro asked, folding his robes neatly into his obi.
"Nevermind," Amadan said, his face going blank. "I just remembered another thing we must do before we leave the Court." He shooks his head slightly to clear the feeling of dread descending on him. "Did Hatori tell you when we could meet again?" He asked.
"Hai," Tashiro said, looking out the window. "He should be-" The archer stopped as a knock came from the other side of the shoji. "That would be him," Tashiro said flatly, and opened the paper door.
Hatori walked in quickly, the young girl right behind him. Saidoka closed the shoji and Hatori looked around the room quickly before speaking. "Kitsuki Retsu-san." He bowed.
Amadan returned the bow, "Ikoma Hatori-san. I am glad we could meet again. Ryutai tells me you are a man to be trusted."
The young girl giggled a little, and a large smile crossed Hatori and Tashiro's faces.
Amadan chuckled at himself, "I am sorry. I forget you know Tashiro. Forgive me if I insist on calling him Ryutai while we are in Otosan Uchi."
The Ikoma laughed loudly, "I understand, Retsu. All of these little false identities are probably too much for an honorable man such as yourself,"
Amadan raised an eyebrow, "You have no idea," he said. He motioned for the two to sit, and asked, "What of this traitor in the Court that Tashiro speaks of?"
The young woman, the one who Tashiro knew as Bayushi Kamiko but was known largely Saidoka, said, "It is the Crab diplomat. Hiruma Rei speaks with the words of a man who wishes pain between his Clan and the Lion."
Ikoma Hatori nodded, "On many different occasions, Rei has attempted to lure me to harsh words, and has said many things in court..." His eyes narrowed, "If I were a lesser man, and if I were not trained in the most delicate intracacies of the court by Kamiko-chan, I would have responded in kind." He looked up to the gaijin, "I have heard rumours that the Crab beleive Lady Tsanuri's forces march to their Wall to make war upon them. I know this is not true, but it seems some external force wishes war between the Crab and the Lion."
"And Rei is part of that plot," Tashiro finished.
Kamiko nodded. "Hai, I know he walks with a poisoned blade, but I have no way to back up my claims, besides my own steel." She paused and looked at Hatori, "Or his, but that is exactly what Hiruma Rei wants."
Amadan laughed, and looked to Tashiro, who also had a large smile on his face. Kamiko and Hatori looked confused, until the Dragon produced a small glass vial with red liquid on it. "I think we can help, Ikoma Hatori-san."
"Rise, Dragon," The Chancellor said.
"Domo, Takuan-sama," Kitsuki Retsu replied, rising and turning so that the Court and Takuan could see him fully. "The ways of the Kitsuki have been mocked for many years in the Imperial Court," he began, waving his hands slowly in front of him around the room. "But today, I shall give the method of evidence perhaps a better name." He reached into the folds of his obi and produced the near-empty vial of poison. Most of the court echoed with slight whispers and murmurs as Retsu did so.
"Poison," The Kitsuki said, confirming their suspicions. "I found this is the gardens last night, as I enjoyed the cooling air of the fall. I was shocked to find such a thing here, in the Palace of the Emperor. I took it as my duty to find whoever possessed this earlier and," His eyes drifted to a tall, thin man in dark blue and black robes near the back of the court, "expose them."
Hiruma Rei locked eyes with the Dragon, and Amadan smiled beneath his mask.
"Using the methods taught to me by my father, and his father before him, I have found that this poison was derived from a very rare plant found near the great Kaiu Wall." Nearly every head in the room turned to the Crab Ambassador, who glared at Kitsuki Retsu.
"Your words are veiled like a Scorpion, Retsu-san. If you wish to make accusations, do so, and do not hide like a coward behind pretty words." Rei spat, his hand on the hilt of his blade.
"Indeed," Retsu said, pointing to the Crab's blade. "I shall make my accusation then. The poison in this vial matches the liquid that flows on your blade."
The crowd parted as Rei made his way towards the Dragon, his face red and his eyes narrow. "My Lord Takuan-sama," He bowed low to the Chancellor, "May I draw my blade to show this Dragon his words are false, and his 'evidence' is nothing but smoke?"
Takuan nodded. "You may draw your blade in peace, Hiruma Rei,"
The Crab pulled the blade quickly from its saya, and held the tip of it in his off-hand. "Your accusations are wrong, Kitsuki Rei." He stepped back, flipped the blade over and placed it back it his obi, his hand still on the hilt. "You will pay the consequences."
From behind the Kitsuki, Mirumoto Ryutai loomed like a mountain, and stepped in front of his master. "My life for my lord," He said lowly, his hand on his katana.
Both Rei and Ryutai looked to Takuan, and behind him, Kakita Yoshi. The Crane nodded and smiled slightly, and Takuan then gave his silent approval of the duel.
Just as the Chancellor motioned, Rei's blade came from its saya and swung towards the Dragon samurai. Ryutai pulled his blade and swung it high, meeting the Crab's sword, and riding along the edge of it as he spun about and the sword struck low across the Crab's stomach. Ryutai came in close and caught Rei's sword wrist, to prevent a dying strike, and whispered into the Crab's ear, "I am Bayushi Tashiro, descendent of the First Scorpion. Tell your master in Jingoku that his agents lack skill in both poison and sword."
The body fell to the floor, and Tashiro wiped his blade on the Crab's robe before sheathing his katana.
"You have backed your words with honor, Dragon," Came the voice of Ikoma Hatori from the crowd. He stepped forward and looked down at the body of Hiruma Rei, "But that does not mean your evidence was correct. The Crab's word perhaps ring true?" Hatori was playing his part in their plan, but to the Court, everything looked normal.
"No," Kitsuki Retsu said leaning over the dead body and tugging at the hilt of Rei's blade. A thin, long knife came out of the handle, and Retsu held it in his hands. The blade was covered with a red poison. "I meant this blade. Not his katana." He said, and Hatori could see the smile in the Dragon's eyes. "He isn't even a Crab, Hatori-san. I'm sure if you send word to the Hiruma, they will have no record of this man. I'm afraid the true ambassador to the Crab has been killed and replaced."
The Court whispered amongst themselves and a few moments later, the body has been removed, Kakita Yoshi spoke, "You have acted well this day, Dragon. Your name and your family gain much glory from this. You may continue to your next point of order."
"Domo, Kakita Yoshi-sama," Retsu said to the Crane, and stepped back from the Throne. He looked to Hatori, then to Ryutai. Both looked back at him expectantly, not knowing what he was about to say.
"My Lords," he spoke, "Imperial Ambassadors of the Court," he looked from face to face, his heart pounding, "It is my duty to inform you that the Daimyo of the Agasha family, Agasha Tamori-sama, has bid me to bring you this news." Retsu closed his eyes for a second, then said, "The family of the Agasha are Dragon no more. They have left our Clan to stand under the banner of the Phoenix."
Where there had been whispering before, now the Court nearly broke into a war of shouts as each diplomat looked to another and questioned what the Dragon had said, or attempted to find some way to gain an advantage from this move. Retsu looked to the Phoenix ambassador, whose face had gone pale. Doubtlessly the Phoenix did not know about the Agasha's descision, for it was kept to the uppers levels of the Phoenix and most of the Agasha.
"The Daimyo himself," Retsu raised his voice above the crowd, "will stand with my Lady still." He looked over to Ryutai, and something passed between them.
Just then, Ryutai doubled over in pain, and Retsu rushed to his side. The Court grew silent as once again all attention was focused on the two Dragons. "My yojimbo perhaps was poisoned by the false Crab after all!" Retsu said, and began to lead him out of the Court. "My Lord Takuan, my family's skill in curing poison is well known. At your word I will take him to our chambers and ensure he will live to tel his grandchildren of this day."
Takuan nodded, and the two Dragons quickly left. As they moved down the hall, Tashiro whispered, "You are a fool, gaijin."
"Hai," he responded, leading him across the garden, startling some of the people playing Go. "But I am a fool with quick-minded friends. Thank you for getting us out of there." The two moved to their chamber and found the shoji was open. They quickly moved inside and saw a short man in the robes of the Phoenix standing at his window, looking out.
"Amadan," he spoke without turning, "I am glad you are still alive."
"I am sure I don't what you mean, Phoenix." Amadan replied his eyes narrowing under his jingasa, "If you refer to the gaijin Togashi Amadan, he has been dead many..." The Phoenix turned and looked him full in the face with a large smile. Amadan recognized the man.
"Do not fear," Came a voice from beside them. Tashiro and Amadan turned to see Hitomi Daitan standing in the corner. "Sano-sama approached me and knew you lived yet. He has most urgent news."
Amadan removed his jingasa and mask, saying "Shiba Sano... I thought you had died, old friend."
"Then we're even," He replied, his smile getting wider, "And I am now known as Asako Sano, gaijin."
"Who is this man?" Tashiro asked, confused.
"Shi-," Amadan stopped and corrected himself, "Asako Sano. A prophet, the very definition of a holy man, and a friend."
"Amadan-sama," Daitan stepped to the gaijin and handed him several letters, "Our Lady sends her word, and passes the letters of Kenojin-sama and the Shidoshi with it." He knelt on the floor and closed his eyes, "But perhaps more important is the matters that Asako Sano-sama has yet to speak of."