"Is it working?" He grins. "You'll have to ask Lord Yokuboo that question, I think. He's in charge of getting to the capital, and there's some leeway allowed on how long he takes."
'Hello,' Jian inclined his head to the server, a distinct foreign accent in his speech, 'I will have some tea, whichever local blend you like best. I'd also have some questions about the region if you have some time.'
"Who knows." Kyouka replied with a shrug as she finishes putting on her clothes and armor. "And here I thought you'd be fucking me the entire day. Haa. Too bad." The redhead sighed making sure her katana was secured on her side, as she grabs her rifle, slinging it behind her. "Well, maybe next time then. Of course, you'll have to beat me again." She said with a grin as she exits her room. Kyouka heads for Lord Yokuboo's castle, on the off chance that he was already prepared to leave.
“A sword master, huh... that's just the kind of thing big sister Yuki would be interested in.” Midori commented as she enjoyed the delicious dinner. “Well, I hope she is successful and she will spend some time at home afterwards. Mmm, this is wonderful! Probably as good as what the Emperor and his mother eat, if not better!” She complimented the food. “So, how was your day, sis, mom? Anything interesting happen? Apart from the letter about the Kushan, I mean?”
"Just fine." Dismissing his question, she settled on something moderately priced that looked tempting enough. She slightly loosened the top of her kimono to show off some of her bust as she sat, figuring that would be more distracting than anything else. She could feel the slight twitching of her ears underneath her ears picking up on various sounds and stiffened for a moment so they wouldn't perk up and show. Waiting for their orders arrived, she remains mostly silent so he can lead the conversation.
"Senzan, father, he's changed from before. Ah... a little lower, auntie... Yes. Right. Ugh, there!" Groaning as she felt Midori's hand press against her shoulder blades. Chitsukiko couldn't be certain what she truly felt about the change yet. But there was progress toward something different. "I'd like to follow along with Lord Yakuboo as he journeys to the capital. To stand at his side. And," deciding she wouldn't keep the truth from her guardian, "father asked me to. But not only that, I want to be there, representing our branch of the family." A sensitive subject, especially with her emphasis on 'our' representing herself and her father rather than Midori's. It was much to ask for, but Chitsukiko wanted this chance to prove herself as capable in the clan leader's eyes and, hopefully, increase his father's standing through her loyal service. "Can you talk with him, auntie?"
Jurobei thought for a moment, then bowed. "These conditions are satisfactory. Yakuboo clan shall support the Shogunate."
She nods, bringing him a steaming cup of fragrant tea. "I suppose there aren't many customers, so I can answer." She sits across from him. "You're from the mainland, I'm guessing?"
Riding up through the city, towards the castle, Ryouka is stopped at the gate by a detachment of spearmen. "Halt, state your business here!"
Midori's mother blushes. "You exaggerate wildly sometimes." The meal, despite her protestations, is excellent. Saeki perks up. "Actually, I had a stroke of luck, today. There was a nanban merchant in the harbour, who sold me some firearms. I sold them to the lord's brother, up in the castle, for a neat profit." She chuckles. "Maybe I'll give you some spending money, sis. If you're nice to me."
"My lady, I have news of Lord Yokuboo." A beautiful middle aged woman stands in one of the rooms, reluctantly leaving the embrace of an attractive young man, to face a messenger. "What news?" She asks. "Your daughter, her excellency the shogun, has invited Lord Yokuboo to walk with her privately in the gardens." The milf frowns. "I see... It could be innocent, but perhaps my daughter is being led astray. I want you to head to the gardens and report on what they talk about." No one sees the kunoichi in the shadows.
As intended, his eyes are drawn to her chest, though me makes an admirable effort not to stare. "S-So how did you come across your store? Did you found it, or inherit it? Interesting work?"
There's a crack in Chitsukiko's back as tension is released. "I suppose I could. I doubt he'd refuse." The samurai is quiet for a moment, trying to determine the best way to phrase her thoughts. "Just be careful around Senzan, alright? It pains my to be suspicious of my brother, but part of me worries that he isn't interested in you so he can reconnect with his daughter, but so he can replace his late wife. Just, remember that you'll always have me, if you need help." She moves her hands lower. "Anyway, that doesn't matter right now, if you're heading to the capital." She chuckles. "I'm almost envious of you, going out to see the world in your youth."
She returns his bow. "I accept your support." She gives the traditional response. "Now, since it's dark, I assume you'll be staying the night? The roads can be perilous past sundown."
"There's not much of a story. I used to travel across the country to trade things, but it wasn't really convenient after my daughter was born to be out on the open roads. The property itself, was quite the bargain. Apparently the previous owner suspected it was haunted so they were eager to have someone to take it off their hands. Of course, I'm pretty confident these ghost stories are completely overblown." It didn't take much. Just slipping in occasionally and moving things into places they weren't before. A few uses of foxfire and suddenly they were having strange lights at night and it only took a little bit of work with illusions and shape shifting to get him to start seeing things that weren't really there. Of course, when a woman comes to town looking for a place to set up and she wants to make it her problem to deal with it, you're going to sell. You'd be a fool not to take it. Looking amused for reasons she didn't share, her smile became mischievous. "Are you the superstitious type?"
Inazuma thanks to that eavesdrop get know, that there is another ninja on service of mother of shogun. Kunoichi decided sneak to gardens to see lord Yokuboo and wait as he will be alone. Inazuma must be double carefull to awoid being spoted by rival ninja.
“Yes, sometimes I do – but not this time, because there's no need to exaggerate. The meal is really that good.” Midori gave her mother a warm smile before turning to her younger sister. “You did? Well done, Saeki, good job.” She nodded in approval before adding in a sweet tone of voice “I am always nice to you, am I not? Surely you'll be a good little sister and give your big sister some spending money... but I suppose I could do something nice for you as an added incentive. Want me to brush your hair? Massage your feet? Something else?” She looked at Saeki and waited, smiling sweetly, though her eyes made it obvious she was just playing along.
Jian took the cup and smelled the aroma, smiling, 'Thank you, a very pleasant blend.' He took a quick sip of the tea, as the woman sat down. He let out a whistful chuckle, 'Indeed I am. Jian Zhao, from Dongwei in the Eternal Empire, at your service.' He smiled, 'I wonder... what can you tell me about the ruling house here?'
Taking a breather to finally calm her hangover, Kyouka savored the breeze that hit her face as she rode toward the castle. But with the detachment of spearmen stopping her, the redhead sighed before replying. "I'm here to meet with Lord Yokuboo. I seem to have been invited for the Kushan."
"You must be quite shrewd, and quite brave, to take up residence in a haunted house." He chuckles, as the servers come, placing down beef bowls and sake on the table. "Am I superstitious? Well, I have been known to take ghost stories too seriously, from time to time."
