The New Winds

Ikoma Eichiro, his day finally winding down, sits at the now usual Lion table to share information and strategize for the final day of competition. He is drinking a more restful tea as he winds down the day.

His brother is not that far behind. Changing from the mud soaked clothes from before, he emerges to sit at the Lion table, a bottle of sake with him.

"Sup bro?"

Matsu Qiang arrived soon after, joining the others at the Lion table. The Matsu glowered suspiciously at the attendant who came to see if he wanted to order any food. "Not hungry tonight," he claimed.

"I'm not sure why we still come here, Ikoma-san," Qiang grumbled after the server departed.

Nijiro bows to the Matsu , “ I think we have some things to discuss, sama,”


He passes a cup and his mostly full bottle of sake to him. “Even if not hungry, this may help.”

"Not for the food, that's for sure; but going out means cleaning another set of clothing." Eichiro replies. "Tomorrow is... Kyujutsu and Hunting as well as the banquet. Our friend Hitoshi did pretty well today, considering. We'll probably need to watch out for anything that happens during the Hunting test, since if someone wanted to interfere that'd be the place to do it."

"I also sent out my questionnaires to get some of the info we need to find the, ahm, individual who wishes him to fail."

"Were any of you present for the fight at the bar yesterday? I'm wondering if that was related."

A tired Kichiro arrives and bows before taking his seat.

"For once this village's thieves and ronin managed to evade me. I was not there Ikoma-san." Kichiro replies gruff voice. His hair appearing ruffled from another stressful day of events.

"With all the attacks of late its concerning that the crane have not elevated security. We need to make sure we're keeping each other safe. Especially when on the outskirts during this hunt."

Nijiro nodded “There is something very foul about what is happening with Hitoshi. I found out that multiple judges have had blackmail used against them, and not something minor. Something that could affect the honor of their clans. “ He looks towards his kin . “ While something certainly dishonorable, consider that to use such massive reasons to prevent the graduation of a simple minor Clan seems very, very odd to me.”

He continues after a breath” You see, blackmail, is really only effective once. If you keep using it the person will just break. So, consider it is like a resource, like a unit held in reserve. Once used, the Enemy can plan and prepare. It’s like exposing reinforcements for what seems a small hill, with no tactical use. Something is odd about that.”

"What if that's all this individual has?" Eichiro asks, "What if the objective isn't a clan conspiracy, but revenge by one individual against the Crane?"

Nijiro shakes his head “My information showed even Crane judges were blackmailed, so it’s not versus the Crane, per se, but against Hitoshi. And, to answer your question bro, if it was all that they had why use it here, now, instead of using it to advance their own agenda?”

"What if revenge is their agenda. Against Hitoshi, against our hosts or perhaps both. Maybe whatever damage they will do to the crane is a secondary bonus to hurting someone or something else?"

"Has anyone asked Hitoshi himself?" Kichiro tabs his cheek bone with his index finger. Pondering on this conundrum. "I mean... If this is something personal towards the guy surely he knows something. Some family ties or unspoken parentage? Its hard to imagine what else we could of accomplished in our short lives that warrants such retaliation."

“My information just arrived, so I haven’t yet, my initial concern is for his graduation, as well as the dishonor this places before all of the contestants to graduate. If he doesn’t graduate, that is....”