The New Winds

Having taken his finished painting up to his rooms at the inn, he made his way to the Red Lotus for an evening tea before bedtime. Setting himself down to a table toward the rear of the establishment, he received the pot with thanks and took to musing on the day's events.

"Excuse me, Bayushi-sama, may I join you." the Dragon offered a bow after approaching the table. "I am Kituski Asahi."

Jiro looked up. "Of course, Kitsuki-san," he said, rising to bow. "Please, have a seat. I'll see about getting a second cup." He signaled to a server to bring one over. "How are things?"

"Good." he nodded. "The day started a bit odd, but it went well. I hope it has been the same for you."

"It has not been without its trials, I am afraid. My performance in the obstacle course has been rather difficult for me to swallow. That said, I think on the whole it has been pleasant. Someone has been rather free with my personal information in the rumors, but it has not yet caused any trouble."

"Rumors?" he frowned. "I've generally found those to be exaggerated, at best. But, they can be troublesome, if someone is targeting you."

"None of them were an attack, exactly. Just about my being on the marriage market, and about my having seen the former Emerald Champion last night."

"May I join your company?" Tabshin asked casually.
He had a tea cup in hand.

"Jiro-san, I recall you from our time at Hirosaka."
He bows to the Dragon.
"You may call me Tanshin. I come from the Isawa. I do not believe we met."

Settling in to the table, he asks:
"You saw Satsume-sama as well?"

"Kitsuki Asahi." He offered the Phoenix a bow. "That was what I had hoped to speak with you about, Bayushi-sama. It seems several have seen this spirit. I have not. I am curious about it, however."

Jiro returns Tanshin's greetings. "I did, yes, Isawa-san," he replied, putting just a little more of a polite rhetorical distance between them.

"It was the night before last, Kitsuki-san. I woke to a bright light in my room and found myself taking tea with the former Emerald Champion. I was not aware that he appeared to anyone but Bayushi Kaidan and myself, but I suppose that I am not entirely surprised. I wonder, did he make a request of you as well, Isawa-san?"

Tanshin nodded.

"He did. The second time I saw him was in a tea ceremony, just as you described. He was concerned that Hitoshi would be prevented from passing his genpukku by un-named adversaries, and that he should be helped."

Tanshin sipped his tea, and looked to the others.

"Was that the message he relayed to you?"

"Yes, though he mentioned his brother-in-law to us." Jiro tilted his head. "And I think we have all seen the method being used."

"Indeed. I've heard that some of our fellow contestants have broached the subject with some of the judges."

"What did Satsume-sama have to say about Toshimoku-dono? I believe his involvement is key to this situation."

"Have you heard anything of this Asahi-san?"

"Others have mentioned it, saying what you have said." he nodded. "Not having seen the spirit myself, I wanted to hear of the account from many of those who had."

"He said only that his brother-in-law, whom I took to be Kakita Toshimoku, was especially likely not to want to see Hitoshi perform well."

"He also mentioned another thing in passing that caught my attention. While we were quartered in the House of the Laughing Carp, Satsume-sama seemed to think he was in the House if the Red Lotus."

Tanshin spread his hands outward.
"Where we find ourselves."

"What tea set was used?" Asahi asked.

Tanshin reflected for a moment.

".... I don't recall. I believe it was all conjured as part of the vision."

"If he thought he was here, it may be a set that is or was used here." he explained.

"That's an interesting thought." Tanshin rolled the idea around in his head.

"If we found it, what would that mean? Tea and tea sets are common settings for conversation."