(Day 3, EE) Popup Event: This tastes funny..

[Akodo Kichiro]

"Anything to take my mind off... This abomination against human decency." Kichiro extends the box of tainted food as far away from him as possible. Past the weakness of his gut, Kichiro does express a sincerity in hearing about Aiichiro's passion project.

"The scorpion are not the best sort to interpret the will of bushido. What Kakita-san did was correct and very much in line with the tenet of Jin." He tosses in at the end there.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

He takes the box from his hand and replaces it witg the war fan. It was well-crafted (one raise for quality) and had one side unreflective. The edges were sharp. "I heard that the Lion are the tessenjutsu specialists. I have been training to fight with two."

[Akodo Kichiro]

Kichiro is taken aback by the craftsmanship of the fan. He races a finger along the edges of its blade in admiration. Aiichiro would probably notice simply by how Kichiro held it that he did not bare any experience with such a tool beyond basic signaling he displayed back at their first meeting. "The vibrant colors of its design will better have you stand out among the chaos of war. An individuality to its quality that would have you shine brightly as a guiding star among the heaviest of storms. Communication the best means of exerting your control and influencing the flow of battle after all." Kichiro stares at his own reflection wtihin the one reflective side.

"Tessenjutsu specialists? Hai that would be accurate. More emphasis placed on them as a tool than a weapon along my path of education. As I've said before I have yet to given mine. Among the Akodo they represent a badge of authority over your peers that you must earn." Kichiro offers the fan back to the crab. "And two just seems like showing off." Kichiro jests.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"I won't need two once I get my daisho, of course. I made two in case I would need to battle until then. In those lands, I mean." He replies and the engines of Lions being against Cranes tick in. "It's not that I expect Lion foes. Just to be clear. They wouldn't be dishonorable to attack this place during the championship."

[Akodo Kichiro]

"To the customs of crab territories I understand your caution." Kichiro gestures his palm in calm downward motion as if to express no offense taken. "To attack not only the crane but every clan in attendance of this sacred festival would be a most disgusting act. An absolute impossibly that my clan would ever resort to such villainy. I walk these lands with no weapon of my own or any form of armor. Twice now I have nearly been met with physical altercation among these streets and I still trust the law's authority within these lands. I have faith in the crane's hospitality." Kichiro, while speaking honestly, mostly speaks on to deflect any seeming tension between the lion and the crane.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"I understand your wish to keep a peaceful image. But if something attacks the empire, wouldn't you prefer to be ready to defend it?" He asks. "Not to imply a meeting with such important guests would be lacking garrison. Of course. Or that the government figures would not take adequate security measures and the defense of our place would be left to children."

[Akodo Kichiro]

"I am ready to defend the empire with my life armed or unarmed. My honor is strength enough." Kichiro decrees with inner strength. "Although I will admit past our gemukku we are never to be completely unarmed unless within the graces of the son of heaven himself. Few days time and this reliance on spirit alone will be forever matched with the razor edge of steel."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"Ah. I forgot you were not there." He holds himself specially strongly not to chuckle. Got to win the respect of this Lion. "Wouldn't you need to be unarmed in the presence of a daimyo? Or at a tea house?"

[Akodo Kichiro]

"Traditionally you would be with your wakizashi at all times. Both tea house and before your daimyo." Kichiro pauses for a moment. "Unless you were to stand trial and deemed untrustworthy of your ancestral blade." A horrifying thought to the most honorable of samurai. A decision that nearly implies denial to proper seppuku and the harshest of sentence.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"I have heard that The Great Bear does not allow weapons to be brought by guests into his meeting room at all." He replies. "But I think this is a bit of exaggeration. Which oni," he remembers the rokugani taboo on talking about the Shadowlands, "I mean, evil, would try to launch an attack like this?"

[Vutall]

When the two boys arrive at the Magistrate Estate, one of the guards stops them and asks what the purpose of their visit is.

------
Meanwhile, at the Inn...

Hitoshi and Tsubasa look shocked at the scene and the news.

"Poisoning? I do not have the skill to handle such a thing, but I know that the priests at the Shrine to the Fortune should know an incantation to assist with the matter."

Tsubasa says with great concern. Hitoshi just stands there, his arms folded across his chest and a contemplative look on his face.

[Ikoma Eichiro]

"That.. sounds good." *urk* "We can... discuss law on the way there and theology on the way back." Eichiro stands unsteadily. "For no malady can stop" *gurgle* "a Lion."

He takes two steps, then turns a strange color and dashes the rest of the way through the room and just barely makes it to the 'little cubs room.'

[Togashi Dao]

"Poisoning? I do not have the skill to handle such a thing, but I know that the priests at the Shrine to the Fortune should know an incantation to assist with the matter."

Tsubasa says with great concern. Hitoshi just stands there, his arms folded across his chest and a contemplative look on his face.

"It is a trial...to endure. A lesson...to be learned." Dao managed to softly reply as he vowed internally to try that fasting thing and in fact tried to channel that mindset to ignore the rumble in his belly.

[Akodo Kichiro]

"Back at the house of the laughing carp we have a criminal ronin that needs to be arrested for the heinous crime of poisoning children. The criminal is currently knocked unconscious and being watched over by a few of our fellow topaz competitors." Kichiro attempts to speak professionally and conceals his need to vomit. "If you could please send some yoriki over to apprehend this ronin and allow us an audience with the magistrate. We offer both first hand testimony and bring evidence in hand." Kichiro humbly bows to the guards with respect. Hopefully at the mention of a young akodo arresting another criminal should spark the magistrate's interest.

[Vutall]

The guard nods at Kichiro and enters the estate, returning after some time with a Magistrate.

"I am told that you have testimony of a Ronin who has conducted quite a serious crime. Please, let me hear it."

He has a scroll and an ink brush at the ready to record what is said.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"We were to have dinner at The House of the Laughing Carp. At the table, I noticed one of the servants have been replaced by a ronin. Many other competitors to the Topaz Championship were with me, and almost all related to their food being bad in taste. Short after that, everyone but me and Moto-san started to show disease-like uneaseness. I called over the ronin, and he admited to poison our food and alleged to be under the request of the Governor of Hirosaka. Moto-san and an imperial servant beat him and have been holding the man since then. He threatened us further before that."

[Akodo Kichiro]

"I will second Kaiu-san's testimony. We also brought a sample of the poisoned food as evidence." Kichiro offers the wrapped box to the magistrate.

[Vutall]

"The governor of Hirosaka? I thought he was cast out of the position and stripped of his name?"

The Magistrate takes the evidence and nods in thanks.

"Based on what you have said, despite being not samurai yet, your words hold weight because of your impending graduation. I judge this ronin guilty, and he shall be executed for his crime. Please, allow my yoriki to accompany you back to detain him."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"That would explain it. The ronin explained the poison was non-lethal, although I fear what would be their intentions. Perhaps they are sending assassins overnight? Can we have the place guarded? Or merely sabotaging us so we may fall to dishonor as he did?" He asks sheepishly. "He is at the Laughing Carp." He got puzzled that an emerald magistrate and adult samurai had to ask their permission to do their duty, but played along. "Your yoriki may come."

[Akodo Kichiro]

Kichiro nods in head in approval of the magistrate's sentencing. Ready to escort them back and arrest the ronin