Hizashi Ambassador Mansion Jeoncho

The path leading to the mansion was a quiet one at this time of day. Once the sun set, most were afraid to trek outside of their homes, especially after the far intense battle that had taken place within its streets. Walking along the path was a ghost- well.. it was a woman, but they would have easily been mistaken for a ghost. A night breeze blew by and strands of hair as white as snow fluttered along with it like spider silk. Her hands were joined together with a rope of bed beads with symbols etched on each one, a protective charm against the restless spirits of the dead that no doubt plagued the area. She moved with focused grace as her concentration was kept on her own safety. Her bow and quiver was set on her back, and her religious attire was in full view.

The lanterns of the mansion were easy to see now, with every step she took.

The woman stopped as soon as she approached the guardd being sure to not commit any hasty movements. As the guards had a closer look at her, she would answer their inquiry.

"I am here to offer my services as a healer for your wounded and your dead. I have seen what remains of a great battle. Am I correct?" The woman would ask while her dark gaze remained downturned at her hands. "My name is Tsukimi Saito."

"What is becoming of them..?" Sakuma asked, perhaps rather inexperienced to do so as she did not want to delve deeper into the subject than she had to. "Oooh, I think you're right, we should probably leave the generals to themselves..!" she tried to giggle, but such a thing was never natural to Sakuma and it came about rather as one trying to sneeze while being tickled beneath their feet.

Sakuma tried to imagine the barbarian things from Quying and it actually worked rather well as she recalled the different torture tools the shogun had at his disposal too. Heated metal shoes, strings through clothes that when tightened by a wheel could break one's bones and... well some of his torturers definitely had ways of inflicting pain and bruises that were not of the 'usual tools'. Magic was not her forte though some of the Dragon Head Ninja had practiced some old arts where the physical was bend by the metaphysical like being able to bend metal with the mind and slip through impossible thin crevices but great concentration. Some turned nuts though and she rarely saw it becoming truly an advantage to those who even mastered it.

"Oh yes miss Kiri, that certainly sounds horrifying!" she said, her lie amplified by her thoughts towards the torture-instruments the shogun's men had used to get people to 'admit sins'. She had always frowned at torture - it was primitive, crude and only adept at getting people to admit lies. No, what worked was listening in at doors, reading secret letters and befriending people who had no other friends.

Sakuma quickly covered her mouth with her hands - the amount of excitement Kiri seemed to show meant this was the wrong to say. And rightly so she had eyed the Quying daimyo and a firm grasp on her arm had her dragged along with an intent she could not politely disobey.
"Kiri-dono it's okay I'm..." she said, but that was the end of the argument - at this Kiri seemed a foe Sakuma could not deal with easily. Looking into the stern face of Lord Akagi Zuikaku she gulped discretely for she had only heard rumors of the Stone Face Daimyo he was known as in some parts of Jeoncho.

"Lord Akagi, what a nice evening huh?" she went slightly nervously, feeling less like either a ninja nor a noble lady, but rather like a girl again talking to an adult.

“Lord Akagi,” said Kiri, with a small bow, still with her hand gripping the wrist of the allegedly Sarisu-born woman. “It's been so long since we've had time to talk. I hope you are not in need of anything?” she asked, making sure to discharge her duty as a hostess before she introduced the woman with her.

“This young lady is Jun Tansho of Sarisu. I believe she knows very few people here, but she did mention to me that her family have a few Quy suitors lined up for her and since you will soon be her liege lord in one way or another, I thought perhaps you would be able to advise her on who you thought was most appropriate – and also possibly to use your influence to speed things along if you can, she is most eager to make a firm match in Quying.” There was a strange sparkle in Kiri's eyes as she looked at Akagi, holding his gaze for just a little longer than she ordinarily would.

“She also mentioned an interest in strategy of all things! Such a strange hobby for a woman but if you feel it appropriate Jun-san would appreciate a beginner's lesson in how we won the war.” Kiri still hadn't let go of Jun's arm, at this point her grip was becoming even a touch tighter.

"Er... sure," said the superstitious guard, shivering at the thought of yokai. The other guard nodded, as this seemed to make sense, and now she was close to him and speaking, it became clearer that she was not a ghost at all but a living, breathing woman, and judging by her attire, a priestess. "Kumagai, you say?" They both knew the name of one of the most famous generals of the Hizashi clan. 

"I'll escort you to the Lord Regent. Come with me." Putting his spear to one side, the guard would lead Tsukimi into the compound. Staying closely by her, he did not enter the main building, but instead entered another set of guarded gates that led through into an outdoor walkway which opened out into the Mansion's extensive gardens. The gardens seemed to be filled with a variety of celebrants and servants - some of the wounded that Tsukimi wished to treat were here, as well as many nobles, officers and other guests. 

The guard took her by the least populated route towards a secluded corner where two men stood, one of middle years and one younger. "Lord Regent," the guard bowed towards Homura Hizashi, then acknowledged the other also, "Lord Hizashi. This woman is Kumagai Yukie-dono, a healer. She wishes to speak with you," he said to Homura. 

"I agree Lord Akagi, magic has been a divisive subject for far too long, but I believe we can meet and make some rules for how we use those. Quying is a protectorate and use magic for a lot more than anywhere else in Tawakoshi, so perhaps these unifying rules would limit the magic use in Quying, if they were to fit the other areas too. In that respect perhaps Quying should be treated separately, but still I'd like you present to give your view on it." Homura said and nodded respectfully before leaving his presence to mingle with the rest of the guests accompanied by Kojuro.

Soon they were met by one of the guards and a quite pale looking girl clad like a miko and he briefly exchanged looks with Kojuro before nodding at the girl and dismissing the guard with a similar nod.
"Kumagai? Well isn't that a familiar name, huh lord Kojuro?" Homura said with a wry smile eyeing the Kiyonai daimyo before turning to the girl again. "What brings you here then? And how are you two related? Please also tell how Kumagai-dono fares? He sure won a great victory down south!" Homura said with a grin.

Gripping Sakuma's with such sincerity Kiri would not fail to notice that her arms were definitely not those of a girl practicing sewing and gently stroking the dew covered leaves in the zen garden while reciting the poems she'd written. Rather her arms were strong with muscle and hard tendons, and Kiri might even conclude that Sakuma would rightly be able to wrestle out of her grip at any time she wanted. Still, that was not the strategy Sakuma would go for lest she'd start really being frowned at - not she had to keep it cool, even as Kiri decided to go directly against her wishes of not getting involved with anymore suitors. What was she trying to pull?

Sakuma bowed back at the daimyo and took a deep breath - luckily Akagi did not seem as into this as Kiri was.
"Kiri-dono, I'm afraid you've misunderstood. While the daimyo's potential suitors might be very honorable, I am not looking for anymore right now. My father would be quite cross if I suddenly deviated from the ones he had in mind." she said and did a friendly smile to both Kiri and Akagi. "Oh you don't have to, Lord Akagi, I'm but a beginner and an amateur when it comes to warfare and strategy. Tutoring me is rather unbecoming and a waste of time of a daimyo as yourself..." she said and shrugged slightly. She had to get away from Kiri soon, there was not telling what she would be up to next, but she couldn't just walk away lest she'd seem frightened.

Homura nodded at Tsukimi giving her a friendly smile, though as Kojuro interjected with his story about what he had heard, Homura frowned.
"You can't be serious..?" he said to Kojuro, his hands wrapped behind him. "Disowning his own daughter, this is highly... highly..!" Homura said but interrupted himself. "I'm sorry, Kumagai-san, it took me slightly by surprise that he would be a man to do that, but I should not raise this subject right now." he apologized.

"You're a healer and here to heal people? There are lots of wounded people all over the city, but you chose to come here specifically?" Homura rubbed his chin wondering why, as this place was probably where there were the fewest wounded people. "Tell me, Lord Kojuro..." Homura said though. "That samurai with the prickly beard isn't he your personal guard? Am I wrong to assume that he was wounded in the battle since he's been limping a bit and has that pained expression as soon as you look the other way?" Homura asked Kojuro, seeing that his guard might be one of the people who actually needed healing at his party.

"And isn't he supposed to stay close by you, since he's your personal guard? I don't see him right now, he didn't pass out somewhere did he?" Homura looked around but then turned to Tsukimi. "Regardless where you choose to start, your help here is highly appreciated. And whether or not you're recognized by your clan, you make your own name in my eyes by being this valiant." the regent smiled at Tsukimi.

Obviously, Yukie had not been in on Kumagai Aritomo's ruse about her death. Kojuro frowned as the situation seemed less than straight-forward. “I'm not sure this counts as disownment, exactly. More that Kumagai-dono claimed that you were dead to avoid having to do that...” It was a subject that only Kumagai himself would know the answer to, and as his liege lord Kojuro could easily demand that he explain himself, but in doing so it would expose Tsukimi's secret.

“We must make sure no-one else knows your real name for now,” Kojuro decided. “Can you guard be trusted to say nothing?” he asked Homura. “And, given your distinctive look, Tsukimi-san, you should change your hair. There are others who will recognise you as I did.” She must have known that, and yet, she came here anyway. Perhaps she had had some falling out with her father, and that would need to be discussed, but risking herself to help the Hizashi survivors had shown her loyalty to the clan.

“This situation is more than a little complicated,” he sighed, offering her a smile that showed she was welcome here, “but your help is appreciated, Tsukimi-san. I would like to hear the rest of your story a little later, and – you may need to hear about what has happened since you've been gone from the clan.”

It was a cruel irony, that a healer would appear now, so closely after Genji's death, one that perhaps, she may have been able to delay or prevent working alongside Anzen, but in truth, there were more than enough wounded for her to be getting along with. “Oh, Shisou Yasuke you mean? Well, Tsukimi-san could try to heal him, but he doesn't believe in magic and would probably still be limping around even after he was fixed...” Kojuro chuckled, then cast his eye about for his friend. “He seemed to need some time to drink and cut loose and he can't be with me all the time. This must be the safest place in the country right now.”

“Homura-dono, can you take Tsukimi-san indoors? I will find Yasuke and tell him I need him for something urgent.”