The Drunken Otter Sake House

Aki also gave a small giggle at being able to elicit a response from Taro, patting his shoulder and trailing her fingers down his arm as it released contact. She folded her arms, flapping her hand at Haya in negation. "No, no. I'd be happy to go on a small foray. I need some more herbs anyway, so my payment would simply be the protection of this little group. That's enough for me. I do have a job after all." Slipping her fingers into her sleeve, it returned with a small bundle of leaves, wiggling it for emphasis. "I'm a healer, I suppose. Just minor things here and there. Be sure to visit me if you have some small issues." A light trill escaped her lips and a welcoming smile was still on display but the tone of her voice hardened significantly.

"But aside, from that, Miss.. Haya? You mentioned a notorious criminal? Please, correct me if I heard incorrectly, but three jumon is a laughable amount for the amount of danger which you seem to be proposing, even split between three. I cannot speak for my current companions, and I understand that a samurai may be low on funds, but I expect that someone of your state would be able to provide better than that?" She glowed at the other woman, speaking with a gentle mockery. "But of course, I am but a simple worker in this city, I could easily be wrong. I would still be happy to accompany you all for no fee, in return for the previously stated conditions. I am, after all, not a fighter by any means, but of course, would be happy to treat any injuries on the way. My conscience would not allow otherwise."

"Just something to consider."

"Yes yes, three persons are the ideal number for this job!" Haya said, not at all picking up on the subtle signs of her displeasure.

Haya looked at Aki.
"A healer! Well... you always hope that it won't come to that that isn't that so?" she said with a friendly smile. "But then again you don't want to leave them behind either." she said acknowledging her skills. A healer was a dangerous business after all, Haya thought, as they weren't very adept at protecting them selves. Haya's smile froze a bit as Aki started talking to her in a more harsh tone.

"Well... ehh... It's somethi..." she tried to interject, though the women was far more committed to her words than Haya was. To some samurai this way of speaking may have angered them due to samurai being of notably higher standing than normal folks - which Aki seemed to belong to. But in the small Kuzuyama clan the tone is far more non-formal and Haya straightened her hakama with her hands and diverted her gaze away from Aki's.

"I... wasn't interested in trying to trick you. It's just that I've only brought enough money for living expenses." she apologized as she reached for her backpack and pulled out her purse again. "I guess while I'm allowed to stay at Hizashi mansion, my expenses will be far lower than expected though." Haya said and put 40 jumon on the table for Amai to add on the three ones already there along with a small obsidian colored gemstone which was no larger than it could sit on the top of your little finger. If you looked closely you would see that although it was very dark, it was also clear and inside there seemed to trapped tiny silvery bits that made it seem as if you were looking up into a starlit night. "I still don't know how much this will buy, but I hope it's sufficiently more!" she said and bowed to Amai and Aki.

"I will be honored to have both of you along with me if you please!" Haya said to Taro and Aki. "I suggest we meet tomorrow outside The Drunken Otter at dinner and start the search?" Haya proposed. She already trusted these people and in her mind there was no doubt that she had found the right team.

Aki leveled her stare at Haya, mulling over the other woman's tone and posture for a few seconds before softening. "It was just necessary to check for my companions the severity and other conditions of this particular request," she explained, inclining her head slightly to return the bow. "I would not want to put you in a situation where your livelihood is compromised, but I appreciate your understanding. The earnest posture from Haya had won her over, and she did not detect and particular signs of deception either. It seemed as though the samurai was simply a tad oblivious to the ways of the world, but that was not particularly irregular.

Negotiations concluded, she glanced at Taro with a glint in her eye and dug her elbow into the man's side playfully. "Loosen up. It is not appealing for you to be this stiff. But, I agree, it is best to move in a group, so it seems that it is settled. We shall make any final preparations and meet tomorrow."

As Amai made a grab for the coins on the table, Aki stepped forward, lifting a finger to stall the last couple movements of the ronin. "Oh, Amai." Her voice shifted again, becoming overtly saccharine again. "It would be impolite of me to ask after previously conceding the reward, but that gem is awfully beautiful. Would you mind if that was the only thing I asked for? I am afraid I simply do not often get the opportunity to obtain such things regularly."

"I completely understand if your answer is no." Her gaze shifted to Amai, attempting to meet her eyes unflinchingly.

Haya sighed in relief inside herself but tried to keep composed outwardly when Amai said it was enough. Did she look a bit too happy though? Had Haya paid too much? Before Haya could consider whether to remove a few of them again, she had already put them in her own bag.
"Well... I'm happy that you're satisfied!" Haya said with a friendly tone.

"Aki-san was it..? Don't worry about it, I'll manage somehow." Haya said casually though her purse did seem a lot lighter now than before. Perhaps this was the price for good mercenaries. If they also were loyal and reliable, well she had to wait to see until tomorrow.

[Exit: Kiyonai Streets]

Aki dipped her head again, not missing a beat and smiling cheerfully at Amai. "Truly appreciate your kindness here. This bodes well for our cooperation tomorrow, I believe. Please, rest well." Her hand moved in quick sweep and the gem disappeared into her sleeve.

She stepped back, returning to her spot next to Taro and gave him a look out of the corner of her eye, smile becoming mischievous."No one was that serious. Anyway, it is going to be a long day I presume, so I recommend that you get some sleep as well." With a giggle, she turned towards the door, flicking her wrist backwards in a wave towards him.

"Good night. Do not be late, it is not polite to keep a woman waiting, let alone three."

Yasuke frowned as he finished his second cup of sake while looking around. It had been a few days now with no break through apart from spending Kojuro's money on sake writing it down as 'information bribes'.
"Too muscular... too short... too..." he said and squinted. "Too woman. I think that IS a woman though." he mumbled and sighed. It was proving a difficult mission for Yasuke, because the success no longer depended on his own acting - he actually had to find one that acted like a villain and thus could be rather easily framed. Someone no one would miss. He had to conjure up the very image people had in their mind, when thinking of a guy who would kidnap a defenseless servant - and make sure that image was something different than his own face.

The motive was another issue all together, but the simple sentiment that they were after ransom money seemed adequate in his mind. Perhaps the dagger that bastard Chobei had used to stab Kojuro with would do as incriminating 'evidence'. Its handle was ornamented and the blade distinct enough that Kojuro would likely be able to recognize it himself if it was 'found' on someone else. Someone... who had gone back to the shack and picked it up after they left with Nakatani for the Hizashi mansion.

"Hmm... could work..." Yasuke mused and twirled the knife between his fingers before putting it back into hiding. "At least Kojuro would believe it, though maybe other people wasn't inclined to?" Yasuke wondered. It would mean putting a lot of credibility on line just whacking someone and placing the dagger on them and telling Kojuro that he was attacked and had to kill him, but ultimately it could be the easiest way if it worked. Dead men couldn't defend themselves against Yasuke's accusations, but then again certain living people seemed to be born with a tongue that would get them further into trouble the more they spoke their case. Maybe it was someone like that, Yasuke needed. Someone that no woman in Kiyonai would stand up to defend...

Suddenly Yasuke felt the menace of eyes resting on him, a shadow coming closer.
"Come on, do something funny thug..." Yasuke muttered muted as it wasn't the first time some drunkard had approached to taunt him - and he knew exactly how to handle those types. But as two large hands suddenly were slammed down into the table Yasuke recognized that shadow, that smell... and those hands. His eyes opened wide with both hate and terror filling them.
"G-Gihei...!" he said and clenched his teeth. His heart raced and his body felt like fleeing at any moment, and his very soul felt exposed by this man - his father.

Here Yasuke sat as a reasonably distinguished samurai - at least in Kojuro's eyes - and he was terrified by the sight of his old man. Like a child he clenched his fists wanting so badly to beat the monster in front of him to make him go away, but instinctively knowing it would be for naught. He knew it... Yasuke had probably grown a lot stronger since he left his home, but every time Gihei had ever touched Yasuke it was with an unmistakably iron hard hand that was forged to tell everyone who was in charge. That fear had been forged into Yasuke's very bones.

"What do you want..?!?" Yasuke said with voice of strained hate struggling to look the old man directly in his eyes. He wanted to avoid any kind of conversation with his father, and mostly the one about him being a samurai.

Yasuke narrowed his eyes when hearing the word 'father' being spoken. His fists and teeth equally clenched and he could hardly hold back his emotions. 
"I didn't hear you calling me son, Gihei." Yasuke said giving him a hateful glare, though he did not dare do anything but that yet. Not only was he struggling with all his emotions, he also knew deep down that this man was trouble as long as he was in the city. He knew Yasuke and probably wasn't afraid to use any compromising info on Yasuke for his own monetary gains. He had to becareful what he told Gihei - he was a monster and adept at using everything you told him against yourself. 

"Sto-.. stole them...?" Yasuke said surprised and fought himself to not just show his father the swords up close and getting it all settled in a nice and bloody mayhem to end it all. Yeah he had indeed stolen them, but when the words came out of Gihei's mouth Yasuke felt disgusted thinking about it. It was not as much the act of stealing them - well... killing some bloke for them - than the fact that he felt like he would resemble Gihei far too much if he admitted it. 

"These are earned..!" Yasuke said almost spitting the words out putting his left hand down on the hilt just in case Gihei wanted to try to grab one of them. Actually Yasuke did feel like they had been earned since Kojuro's trust in him had showed, that if they were lost he would make sure Yasuke got a spare couple. "And the money are none of your business." Yasuke added guarded. And neither were his title but Yasuke couldn't resist giving his father a small poke for all that negligence through his upbringing and Gihei giving him shit about not calling him 'father'. 

"I'm a samurai of House Hizashi now and a quite respected one. What are you doing these days, father? Bought any notable titles yourself with those gambling winnings?" Yasuke said and smirked like a boy having defied his father for the first time. "And by the way a peasant like you shouldn't come barging his dirty hands on a samurai's table either..!" Yasuke said, though his expression was torn between his usual intimidating self and a small boy expecting to get slapped for his insolence. 

A terrible liar? Yes Gihei was right that Yasuke had been a bad liar on most occasions and that his dad exposed him almost every time. But the thing about good lies was the fact, that they were never exposed and thus the successful lies were never acknowledged. Yeah, Yasuke had definitely pulled a couple of those on Gihei too - he had simply learned from his bad lies to create better ones. Also Gihei was wrong to assume the lies hadn't brought him anything and the swords and sack of gold were proof of that. Still the way he so convincingly spoke to his fear had Yasuke feel how fickle his position was and how easily this lie could be ended.

"Polite words..?" Yasuke mumbled and frowned. Indeed normally Yasuke knew his swords would easily take on such a mundane weapon, but with Gihei he was not afraid of the axe - rather it was the man that intimidated him. Yasuke removed his hand from the hilt but kept it in the immediate vicinity as being relaxed with this guy was only an invitation for him to step all over you. And he'd do that willingly both psychologically and physically. Yasuke noticed he still looked like he was tremendously strong and had eyes that radiated with the same malicious intent as they did last time he saw him.

Yasuke lowered his head as Gihei spoke about his past in relation to his current samurai status. Yasuke hadn't admitted anything yet, still it seemed like Gihei knew exactly how he had 'worked his way' up, though he couldn't have and it was unsettling how much his father knew about him. Yasuke glanced up at him very shortly and looked down again.
"I don't know how you think I couldn't have done this without lying." Yasuke said, determined he wasn't going to give him the pleasure of being right. Yasuke saw how Gihei looked at the purse of gold and glanced back at Gihei. Yasuke then took 10 gold and put it on the table in front of Gihei leaning towards him himself.

"I would have asked you anyway, but this is payment to not lie to me anymore. Tell me, is my mother dead? Did you kill her?" Yasuke suddenly asked Gihei. The question came from a whim, and was more some kind of 'fight back' to counter Gihei's aggressive questioning, but Yasuke found that he was determined to follow this through. Gihei had told him so many times how his mother had left because he was a horrible child, how she had run away in the middle of the night because she couldn't take Yasuke anymore. He had always known it to be wrong, but he hadn't dared pursue the truth until now.