Shogun's Palace

A short and harsh cough sounded from the shoguns throat as he landed his behind in the throne beside the low table where his masterwork katana always stood.
"Who's this..?" he asked annoyed and gave his adviser a sidelong glance. The shogun had wanted another round with his mistress and thus he was much delayed in his daily duties - though this was hardly the first time that happened.

"A peasant? Why do you bring a peasant before me?!?" he asked upset and was about to get up when the adviser put a hand on his shoulder and explained the cause. "I see... so you claim to represent the farmers that live near the border and you were telling me... that the so called enemy soldiers were freely taking your crops?" the shogun said though his voice was still more annoyed than concerned.

"What I would do about that?" he asked as his grey-ish face turned slightly purple and he pursed his mouth. "Simple... I'd stop the constant bickering and spreading of wrongful gossip at the root." he said with a smug smile as he turned to his adviser who lowered his head to the shogun's height. "Put him in Xuandao Prison and give him a 'traitor's cell". he whispered as the adviser reluctantly bowed. He had learned long ago not to question the shogun's orders, even as the cruel punishment the shogun referred to would see the farmer rotting up in what was literally a small hole in the ground fashioned with iron bars as a roof and only enough space to sit down. This would expose the prisoner to the full midday sun as well as the cold winds at night.

The traitor's cells as they were called were thought to be built partly for the personal amusement of the shogun, who would often stroll along these cells when the day was at its hottest, sporting a servant with an umbrella to shield him from the sun and enjoying cold water - sometimes stopping to listen to them pleading for water and release, but would merely smile and seemingly enjoy their torment.

Although Renzo kept the same aloof attitude as always, the weeks since he had acquired the Fenghuang mask had been a struggle. The mask was pushy, and its way of communicating by bombarding Renzo with images of its past, intertwined with visions of his own was not only disorienting but left him with headaches and in a terrible mood after he took it off. However, Renzo would not let it get the better of him, and he strove to master it, even as it strove to push him ever harder. The abandoned park had become his place to practice with the mask in secret, once Yakumo had finished with his duties for the night, and over time he had come to learn something more of its power. He was truly indebted to the Triad for his gift, and while he resented that more than a little, he was not ill-disposed towards him. The masks enjoyed the proximity, their power was greater when the snake and rooster resonated and amplified each other.

It so happened, however, that one day, Renzo was delivered a better offer than working for the Triad boss. It turned out that the Shogun wanted to see him. A chance to change employers and move up the social ladder was not to be taken lightly. Fenghuang seemed to approve it too, and after discussion with Yakumo in the dead of night, it was decided that Renzo should take up the Shogun on his offer.

Quite undaunted by the displays of wealth and force in evidence here, Renzo tossed his cape over his shoulder and mounted the steps in front of the Shogun's palace. Aside from the dark hollows under his eyes, he cut the same immaculate figure as always, dressed in crimson silk, and decorated with gold. “Uehara Renzo. I was invited by His Excellency the Shogun,” Renzo announced to the guards, proferring a piece of paper that requested he make himself known at the palace.

“Thank you,” Renzo replied, though he kept himself straight backed as he breezed through into the Palace grounds. It was an impressive place, but Renzo kept a look on his face as though he saw this kind of thing all the time and rather expected it. He let the woman lead him through the corridors of the palace without any comment. Not only did the palace seem well-guarded but there was something here that made the hair on Renzo's neck stand up. Though he couldn't tell what it was, he felt somewhat as though he was being watched. He probably was, he decided, behind all these walls there could well be guards or ninjas hiding. Everyone had heard the the name of the Dragon Heads. The only thing that surprised him was the servant woman's comment, “don't show him your soul”. As if I would show anybody that, thought Renzo as he smiled at the woman and inclined his head. “I'll be careful.” And with that, Renzo swept into the audience hall, and with a flourish, took a kneeling position on the floor, his head reaching almost to the hands in front of him. “Your humble servant, Your Excellency,” he said, and waited to hear the command of the Shogun.

Renzo lifted his eyes slowly, as the shogun asked him to identify someone. As he raised himself up, the scene before him became slowly more bizarre. A man bound and gagged, leashed like a dog, and the Shogun himself holding the rein. He's insane, ran Renzo's thoughts as he swallowed hard. It was clearly Hitsufune he had in the most humiliating position. Renzo gave a small nod, and spoke clearly. “He is Furusawa Hitsufune.” He wondered exactly what was going on here, but he maintained his composure as he sat and listened to the accusations that Hitsufune had made. “Your excellency,” he replied with a small bow, “A magical artifact?” he feigned scepticism, as he became extremely wary of how he should tread. The Shogun was hardly asking out of mere curiosity, but neither would Renzo walk blindly into a trap.

“Certainly not. Hitsufune-kun is merely labouring under a misapprehension as to the extent of his own abilities. It happens with these country samurai from time to time. I am a ronin, acting as a yojimbo for a merchant of the city. When this man decided to attack my patron, I gave him a sound beating for his troubles. Perhaps he feels that only with magic could I possibly best him in a duel. A vain notion from a small man. Magic is forbidden, by your excellency's decree. To use it in the city, under your watchful eye would be foolish, I'm sure you'd agree, even if I possessed such a thing. Skill alone does not constitute magic, no matter how unbelievable it might be to a bumpkin from the woods.”

“I believe so,” Renzo replied, with a bow. “He didn't have his puppy with him, perhaps that would have evened the odds a little.” His mouth slid into a thin smile. Why did the Shogun have Hitsufune on a leash? It wasn't as though he deserved such a treatment, Renzo thought. But then he quickly admonished himself. There was no such thing as justice in the world and “deserving” or “not deserving” were useless concepts in the face of an indifferent reality.

“You do me far too much honour, your excellency,” Renzo replied, chafing a little at how he addressed him as being Hitsufune's inferior. It was true of course, but somewhat rankled nonetheless. His smile stretched a little too thin as he went along with the Shogun's joke.

“Your excellency, I am certain that if the merchant was adequately recompensed for the loss of my service until the end of my contract, then he would have no reason or cause to complain. The debt would be settled. After all, I am a man of the waves, a leaf on the wind, who floats where he will. Even into the noble palace of the Shogun, apparently.” He wondered how serious the Shogun was about employing him. Naturally this would be a huge step up for him... an opportunity not to be missed. But all the Shogun had was Renzo's own and Hitsufune's word that he was a skillful fighter, with no evidence except his reputation.

It was odd, madness even, but Renzo could put up with a little eccentricity in a client. It wasn't as though he had to like them, so long as they paid him, and as clients went, it was hard to beat the prestige of the Shogun of Tawakoshi.

Renzo did not miss that look on the Shogun's face as he agreed to recompense Renzo's existing client. It seemed that he wanted there to be no conflict of interest. While Renzo could easily stand to be parted from Yakumo for the right price, there was something more to their relationship than just client and freelancer. The masks resonated each other and preferred to be together, and that forged a bond of some kind between their bearers too. Still, Yakumo and Snake would probably relish the challenge of a visit by the Shogun's men, and after all, Yakumo had seemed to think it was a good idea for Renzo to ingratiate himself with the Shogun. “His name is Teiko Yakumo, the proprietor a silk shop in the upper merchants' district,” he answered smoothly, with barely a blink.

“Of course, your excellency. If just the one is sufficient to prove my worth, you shall have him delivered to you swiftly. I have one small request, if I may? Lend me this dog of yours that I might use it as bait to find the other. I assure you, you will have it back in good order when I have finished with it. And I will require a small amount of coin in advance to cover my expenses,” he added brazenly.

Renzo gave the scribe a passing glance as the Shogun talked to him. Was everything being written down? And what did the Shogun do with these transcripts. Perhaps they were saved somewhere and he could read them. Giving another bow to the Shogun, he said “Thank you, your excellency.” So, he was free from Yakumo's service, although he had not yet secured the patronage of the Shogun, and indeed, if he failed at locating and capturing another Kuzuyama he would lose both clients.

“If it pleases you, your excellency,” said Renzo, although he quit felt as though the Shogun did not like the idea of giving up his pet for Renzo's use. “Of course, I can accomplish the mission without it, but it would be more efficient if I had something to bait the trap. From what I hear, they don't often wander too far from the mountains, but to rescue a cousin or son, that would have them come to us, rather than a long trip for me. The expenses as well as the time would be vastly increased. Travel clothing, a horse, provisions, a mountain guide, animal traps.” He raised an eyebrow at Hitsufune whom he knew would be listening. If the man wasn't utterly enraged by now it meant that the Shogun had truly broken him. Then he turned a smile back upon the Shogun. “I am not pressed for time, your excellency. The hard way or the easy way will have the same outcome in the end. The manner in which I complete the mission is for you to decide, my lord.”

“Thank you, your excellency. I will see that your trust is not misplaced.” Renzo bowed again, and privately vowed that never in his life would he allow the Shogun to turn him into a “puppy”. On the off-chance he failed he would rather leave the country and go take his chances as a mercenary in the barbarian lands than suffer that indignity. He took Hitsufune's leash in hand, and the promissory note from the scrive. He gave the Shogun proper obeisance without saying anything further, since he had now been dismissed, turned and left the audience chamber.

He found the servant and handed her the piece of paper. “Can you provide me with a clean garment for this one, and deduct the cost from the payment?” he asked her, still holding the bound and gagged Hitsufune on a lead. There was no way he would go outside and walk the city streets with the Kuzuyama runaway looking like this. The smell was bad enough. “Possibly a hat too.” he added.

“This is perfect,” Renzo replied, deciding discretion was key and therefore not asking about why they had seized a rice farmer's clothes and what had happened to the man who wore them. He briefly looked the garment up and down for blood stains as he unfolded it. “Thank you,” he said with a strained polite smile, as he received the sack of coins. In his expert opinion, judging by the weight and the clink, there was no more than 10 ryo in silver coins. It seemed somewhat reasonable. If the Shogun was significantly more tight-fisted than Yakumo, he would change his mind about working for him, regardless of the prestige.

Hitsufune seemed docile at the moment, but that didn't mean he wouldn't take the chance to escape if he could. “I will untie your hands,” Renzo explained to his prisoner. “Do not even think about using them for violent ends, or I will make sure you will no longer use them for anything.” So saying, he left the gag and leg bindings on Hitsufune, but untied his arms so that he could be dressed in the farmer's kimono. “Tie the belt,” he ordered Hitsufune. Once Hitsufune was dressed and wearing the hat, Renzo took his leave of the servant, and left the palace, only removing the leash from Hitsufune's neck when they were at the door. He wouldn't be able to run, or even walk very fast, but even so Renzo advised him, “You know how easy it would be for me to stop you, if you try to escape, so I'm trusting you to have a sense of self-preservation here, Hitsufune-kun.” As such he walked with his prisoner out of the gates of the palace, already beginning to devise his plan to catch more dogs for the Shogun's menagerie.