[20:27] <~KingGheedorah> 6LAST TIME ON: FRIDAYL5R
[20:27] <~KingGheedorah> 6"Samurai-sama. We are pleased that such esteemed guests would come to pay a visit on our humble establishment. I am Honoka. How may we serve you this evening?" "We heard that the magistrates that came before us stayed here.  Is that correct?" "Please, let's not make this difficult.  Just show me what they gave you." "The front door is the only entrance. I heard them inside, but couldn't pick out anything in particular. I think it's their headquarters for their gang." "Lady Honoka.  A few moments ago, a number of men passed something to this man Tetsunori.  When I asked him about it, he tried to flee."
[20:28] <~KingGheedorah> 6You rise the next morning, well-rested after an evening of relaxation and pleasant company - a far cry better than three days' travel along dusty roads.
[20:28] * Usagi_Okita wakes early and stretches, preparing for the continued investigation
[20:37] * Isawa_Kojiro sets his gear in order, preparing for the new day's investigations.  "So, time to check out that place in Old Kudo, then?" he asks, looking to the others.
[20:38] * Isawa_Musashi nods. "That sounds like a plan." A good night's sleep does wonders for coherency.
[20:38] * Usagi_Okita nods. "The addresses in Old Kudo should probably be looked into first. After that we can check out the gathering spot we visited last night."
[20:42] <~KingGheedorah> 6Of the four addresses, two are fairly close together - in the central part of old kudo - and the other two appear to be spaced fairly far apart on opposite edges of the district. They appear to be residential addresses.
[20:43] <Isawa_Kojiro> "Dealing with petty gangs, bah," Kojiro remarks aloud, though more to himself than anything else.  "Shall we split up to tackle the addresses, or make a house call as a band?"
[20:44] <Usagi_Okita> "I'd prefer to stick together. We don't have any idea what to expect at these addresses."
[20:47] * Isawa_Kojiro shuffles around in his scroll satchel for a moment, then stands, securing his no-dachi to his side.  "Then let's be off.  Nothing like making a house call in the early hours of the day to off-balance someone."
[20:48] * Usagi_Okita smiles. "I agree. Let's be off."
[20:55] <~KingGheedorah> 6Leaving the Gilded Cage and making your way to Old Kudo, you head for the two addresses that are closest to each other, in the center of the district. Kojiro: you are able to easily navigate the twisting and oft-confusing alleyways and roads of Old Kudo. It is still fairly early, yet Old Kudo is alive with activity: peasants and traders flock through the old district to sell their wares at the market, laborers haul building materials to work on the ever-present construction, food peddlars hawking rice balls and mochi from their carts, shopkeeps splashing water outside their establishments to purify the ground.
[20:57] <~KingGheedorah> 6It takes you just over an hour to get across town to the address listed. The addresses are both rather ramshackle residents, two of thousands squashed together in the part of town that was a quiet village before Kudo became Kudo Mura and the administrative seat of the Minor Clan Alliance. One of the listed addresses is a home on the corner of the street, the other is halfway down. The populace in this part of town gives the three of you a wide berth.
[20:59] * Isawa_Kojiro heads for the house on the corner.  "Any ideas of what to ask those who answer the door, Usagi-san?"
[20:59] <Usagi_Okita> "I've been thinking about it a little. We're not likely to be taken for agents of the gang, so masquerading as one of them is out."
[21:00] <Usagi_Okita> "I was thinking just ask them what the gang's concern with them is, using threats if we must."
[21:01] <Isawa_Kojiro> At this, Kojiro can't help but grin.  "I think that's doable," he replies, one arm already resting leisurely on the hilt of his blade.
[21:05] <~KingGheedorah> 6All three of you can smell something rotting inside the shack.
[21:05] <~KingGheedorah> 6The smell is pungent enough to be noticable from outside.
[21:06] * Usagi_Okita pauses and frowns at the door. He moves forward and puts his hand on the door, nodding at Kojiro and Musashi to get ready
[21:07] * Isawa_Kojiro wrinkles up his nose, raising a hand to cover it in disgust.  He nods in return, ready for the inevitable.
[21:07] * Usagi_Okita throws open the door with his left hand, while drawing his sword with his right
[21:09] <~KingGheedorah> 6The door collapses inward rather than sliding sideways, producing a mild racket.
[21:09] * Isawa_Musashi looks inside from behind Usagi. He doubted that anyone would actually leave something near them to rot without trying to get rid of it. Therefore...
[21:12] <~KingGheedorah> 6The house is pretty much what you'd expect from the exterior - a two-room shanty featuring a sleeping chamber and a common room with a firepit and a table. The floor is dirt rather than wood in several places, and you can see the sky from the roof. The source of the stench becomes immediately apparent without the door - the body of a man in a Blue Lotus haori lies prone halfway across the room, a vicious slash across his back. It appears he was cut down while trying to run towards a rear door. A film of blood coats the far wall and has pooled underneath the body.
[21:13] <Usagi_Okita> "Hmm, that's unexpected."
[21:14] <Isawa_Musashi> "If he's already rotting, there's probably none of them still here." Musashi noted, at least semicompetent when he wasn't Kami-daydreaming, at least.
[21:14] * Isawa_Kojiro (chatzilla@sux-236EBD86.ftth.swbr.surewest.net) Quit (Connection reset by peer)
[21:15] <Usagi_Okita> "Right, but I wonder what the significance of an address to a dead man is."
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[21:15] <Usagi_Okita> "I'd like to check out the other house nearby, to see if there's a pattern."
[21:27] <~KingGheedorah> 6Leaving that house for now and heading down the street to the second house, you notice the distinct smell of ash from within, and the foul stench of cooked meat.
06[21:28] * Usagi_Okita takes up the same position, left hand on the door and right hand on the sword, preparing to enter.
06[21:29] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko is sitting in the back, smiling and lightly humming some song.
06[21:32] * Usagi_Okita ensures everyone is ready, then throws open the door again
[21:33] <~KingGheedorah> 6Once again, the door falls inward rather than sliding away, though this time the reason is immediately apparent - most of the interior of the building has been charred and burned away. A blanket of ash covers everything in the small house, and through the smell of burning and rancid meat and the buzzing of flies you note the distinct smell of strong liquor. There is another body in this
[21:33] <~KingGheedorah> 6room, too - a figure lying in the center of the room, face-down, his clothing and features burnt away to a shrivelled, blackened husk.
06[21:34] * Usagi_Okita frowns. "I think I see the pattern."
[21:34] <Isawa_Kojiro> "That's worse than the last," Kojiro helpfully notes, still covering his nose.  "Who wants to bet the other two are in just as poor condition?"
06[21:35] * Usagi_Okita shakes his head. "Sucker bet. Now I'm just curious what exact reason these people all have for being dead. The first being part of the gang, and the second being indeterminate."
[21:36] <Isawa_Kojiro> "A hit list, perhaps?  Or maybe Ryofu's man was a cleaner, of sorts, and these were his next jobs."
[21:36] <Usagi_Okita> "If it's all gang members it could be a purge of some kind. Alternately, this could just be their cleanup spots."
[21:37] <Usagi_Okita> "For the last two, I'd prefer to split up. We don't know if the Blue Lotus know about our possession of these addresses, and visiting them sooner will be better."
[21:37] <~KingGheedorah> 6As you ponder this, all of you hear alarmed shouting from down the street, in the direction of the first house.
06[21:38] * Usagi_Okita turns abruptly in the direction
01[21:38] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "I wonder what's going on over there?"
06[21:39] * Usagi_Okita shrugs and dashes that direction, using his Hare speed to reach the destination quickly
06[21:40] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko heads over to the source of the noise.
[21:40] <~KingGheedorah> 6Outside, you can see several men - two wearing Blue Lotus haori, and two more in nondescript grey clothes - outside the first house. A small crowd of peasants have gathered at the shout. The voices of the yakuza sound both angry and frightened.
06[21:41] * Usagi_Okita approaches slowly and subtly, to try to figure out what they're saying specifically
06[21:43] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko attempts to sneak a peek at the commotion.
[21:44] <~KingGheedorah> 6The two in the Blue Lotus haoris are mostly keeping the crowd back, telling people to move on their way. This, coupled with your presence, has the peasants rather confused, as they are caught between making way for the samurai on one front and making way for the yakuza on the other.
[21:45] <~KingGheedorah> 6The two in the nondescript clothes are having a fairly hushed conversation in the doorway of the domicile.
06[21:50] * Usagi_Okita looks to the others in the group. "I'm thinking we confront them."
06[21:51] * Usagi_Okita frowns at the conversation.
[21:53] <Usagi_Okita> "Chiyoko, are you ready?"
01[21:53] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "It might be in our best interest to get to them quick."
06[21:53] * Usagi_Okita nods. "There's something very odd about this though. Did you hear what they said?"
[21:54] <Usagi_Okita> "I think the corpses were supposed to still be alive, as far as the Blue Lotus were concerned."
[21:54] <Isawa_Kojiro> Noticing the commotion outside the last house, Kojiro takes the opportunity to take a step into the second and replace the door.
01[21:54] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "Yes. They were talking about making something safe last night."
[21:54] <Usagi_Okita> "Which means that there's someone else acting against the Blue Lotus too."
06[21:55] * Isawa_Musashi joins Kojiro.
01[21:55] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "It may be the ones who killed those Scorpion gentlemen."
[21:55] <Usagi_Okita> "But yes, let's get to the other houses fast. We will need to split up."
06[21:55] * Usagi_Okita turns and heads back to Kojiro and Musashi
[22:00] <Isawa_Kojiro> "I take it we're not the only ones on the trail?" Kojiro asks, standing in front of the door, now back in place.
01[22:01] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "We may have to split up to get to the other locations before they do."
[22:01] <Usagi_Okita> "The Yakuza found the house, and I think the guys at these addresses aren't supposed to be dead."
[22:01] <Usagi_Okita> "I think someone else is killing them beside the Blue Lotus, and as Chiyoko-san said, we need to split up and get to the last two."
[22:05] <Isawa_Kojiro> "Very well, Musashi and I shall head for the first one left on that list, you may take the other.  Meet up where we found the hideout, to discuss what our next move regarding it is?"
06[22:05] * Usagi_Okita nods, and heads to the address he and Chiyoko will be visiting
06[22:06] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko follows the minor clan samurai.
[22:08] <Isawa_Kojiro> Kojiro walks in the direction of the other one at a leisurely pace.  "Considering the time it would take for that body to rot, or the other to burn," he says to Musashi, "These other two addresses are likely already too late for us to do anything about.  Think you could call on the kami again, like you did back at the gathering, to find out who did this?"
[22:12] <~KingGheedorah> 6Okita and Chiyoko, you find the eastern house along the wall dividing Old Kudo from the market district.
06[22:12] * Usagi_Okita decides that time is of the essence, and just opens the door without caution or preparation
[22:12] <~KingGheedorah> 6Kojiro and Musashi: the house to the west lies along the western wall, near the riverside of the River of Gold close to the docks.
06[22:12] * Isawa_Musashi nods. "It's possible the kami'll know. Though we should hope we find something I can call kami from, other then air kami." Stupid pranky air kami.
06[22:13] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko covers the rear and joins Okita-san in the opening of the door.
[22:14] <~KingGheedorah> 6Both houses are fairly identical to the previous two - rude peasant shanties, cobbled together mostly from cheap or scavenged materials.
[22:16] <~KingGheedorah> 6Okita: this door opens properly, rather than simply falling inwards. Thankfully, there is no smell as you approach, and the house stands empty.
[22:19] <Isawa_Kojiro> Kojiro leads the way, pausing outside the front door and sniffing the air, mindful of the pattern thus far.
[22:21] <~KingGheedorah> 6Kojiro and Musashi: you detect no untoward smells, foul or otherwise, from outside the domicile.
[22:22] <~KingGheedorah> 6Okita and Chiyoko: the home looks like it was either ransacked or hastily abandoned - what meagre possessions there are have been scattered to the floor. The back door lies open, leading out to what appears to be an alleyway.
[22:22] <Isawa_Kojiro> "Hmph, did they already clean the place out?" Kojiro asks, knocking on the door noisily and waiting a minute.
[22:23] <~KingGheedorah> 6Kojiro: there is no response from within.
06[22:23] * Usagi_Okita wastes no time dashing through the house and into the alleyway
06[22:23] * Isawa_Musashi shrugs. "It's possible. I don't know why they'd hide two and leave another two where they are." He moves to try opening the door. Screw knocking.
[22:26] <~KingGheedorah> 6Okita and Chiyoko: about a dozen paces into the alleyway, you spot a bloodstain among the dirt and the grass, half-splashed against another structure.
06[22:28] * Usagi_Okita looks to see if it continues, but concluding that it does not, inspects the splash area further.
01[22:29] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "Hm."
[22:29] <~KingGheedorah> 6Musashi and Kojiro: you find the domicile empty. It looks fairly undisturbed... save for the rear wall facing the docks, which has been slashed open. Behind, you can see what looks like an alleyway.
[22:33] <~KingGheedorah> 6Okita and Chiyoko: you find a discarded knife about six feet away from the bloodstain, and with it a swatch of plae grey cloth.
06[22:33] * Isawa_Musashi moves to peer out into the alleyway. Wow, fuck careful consideration of what might be there!
06[22:33] * Usagi_Okita moves over to the knife and cloth
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01[22:35] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "The weapon and some more evidance, I believe."
06[22:35] * Usagi_Okita nods. "No body though."
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[22:37] <Isawa_Kojiro> "Anything out there?" Kojiro asks, looking around the room instead.
[22:42] <~KingGheedorah> 6Musashi: you spot footprints in the grass, and what looks like a trail of blood.
06[22:45] * Isawa_Musashi nods. "Footprints. Come on!" He begins following. Yeahhhhhh
[22:45] <Isawa_Musashi> *following the footprints!
06[22:46] * Isawa_Kojiro only shrugs, heading out to catch up.
06[22:47] * Usagi_Okita stands up and frowns. "Guess that's all here. Let's head to the hideout from last night."
01[22:49] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "Alright."
[22:49] <~KingGheedorah> 6The trail streaks down the alleyway, in a manner that would suggest being dragged. It finally terminates in a pile of refuse around the back of what appears to be a dockside warehouse. You hear the steady droning buzz of flies, and catch a whiff of a strong smell - garbage, and underneath that rotting fish, and then something else. A human leg is sticking out from underneath the pile,
[22:49] <~KingGheedorah> 6the skin grey and lifeless.
[22:51] <Isawa_Kojiro> "Well, that's...unpleasant," Kojiro offers, searching for the right words.  "Perhaps we should take the questioning back in the home, rather than out here.  The person who disposed of the body might be different from the killer."
[22:57] <Isawa_Musashi> "Probably a good idea." He offers, heading back into the house and looking for something that he could potentially draw kami from and interrogate.
[22:59] <~KingGheedorah> 6Chiyoko and Okita: it does not take you long to find the hideout from last night, though you do not see much activity at this hour. There are a handful of Blue Lotus thugs milling about outside, but little else.
[23:01] <~KingGheedorah> 6Kojiro and Musashi: there is a bucket in the house for water, and earth and air are in abundance from the dirt floor, the wood, and the air. The firepit is extinguished and looks as if it has been for some time.
[23:06] <Usagi_Okita> "Now we wait for the others, I guess."
01[23:07] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "Yeah, no sense in being terribly out numbered."
[23:18] <~KingGheedorah> 6Musashi; at your prayers, the kami of fire awakens in the hearth, sparking a roaring flame that, for a moment dwarfs you, but quickly subsides to embers and coals. You are aware of the presence of the kami in the room with you.
06[23:21] * Isawa_Kojiro nods in approval.
[23:24] <Isawa_Musashi> "Kami, could you show me what happened here?" He asks the coals before him, gesturing towards the gaping hole in the wall.
[23:31] <~KingGheedorah> 6The hearth roars to life again; a massive plume of fire that rushes toward the ceiling before streaking past you, forming a vaguely humanoid shape that appears to be running out of the hole in the wall. After a moment the flame leaps backwards, taking the form of another humanoid - this one larger, and wielding a sword with a blade of fire. The figure bursts asunder, showering the room
[23:31] <~KingGheedorah> 6with sparks.
[23:36] <Isawa_Kojiro> "Well, that's about what we expected, no?" Kojiro asks, waiting to see Musashi's next move.
06[23:38] * Isawa_Musashi hmms. "In as much detail as possible, kami, could you show me what the larger man with the sword looked like, exactly?"
[23:45] <~KingGheedorah> 6The fire in the hearth blooms to light again, showing the larger man. Though the figure is still a vague outline of flame that burns the eye to watch too closely, you can make out /some/ detail - he has long hair and a fiery beard, and holds his katana in his left hand. There is a short blade - no longer than a tanto - in his right. The figure shifts and changes, and forms into a bucking
[23:45] <~KingGheedorah> 6bull. Then it, too, bursts into a shower of sparks. You feel the presence of the fire spirit withdraw.
06[23:50] * Isawa_Kojiro nods, shifting his weight as he considers what they've seen.  "That was certainly detailed enough, he looks like someone we could pick out of a crowd.  Let's keep him in mind and head over to the rendezvous."
[23:52] <Isawa_Musashi> "Yeah, let's go." Musashi moved to stand and gtfo to the rendezvous.
[23:53] <~KingGheedorah> 6By the time you rejoin with Okita and Chiyoko, it is near midday. Activity outside the yakuza hideout has begun to pick up - tattooed sailors, fishmongers, street toughs and even some merchants begin to stream into the building, though everyone is first spoken to by the two men at the door, under the watchful eye of the handful of other Blue Lotus thugs milling about.
06[23:55] * Usagi_Okita waves to the approaching two. "What was at your house?"
[23:57] <Isawa_Kojiro> "A bit different than those other two, the victim had been chased out the back and disposed of in the garbage nearby.  We've got an idea of what the killer looked like, but no idea who he is.  Long hair, a flowing beard, and wields both a long and short blade."  Kojiro looks over to the building, done with his explanation.
[23:57] <Usagi_Okita> "Long and short...that's not good."
[23:57] <Usagi_Okita> "At ours the resident escaped, all we found was a bloodstain, a torn piece of cloth, and the knife. No body."
Session Time: Sat Jul 21 00:00:00 2012
01[00:01] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "This is becoming very, very strange."
[00:02] <Usagi_Okita> "The man with the short and long sword is most troubling of all, though I'm not sure what business a Dragon would have here."
[00:04] <Isawa_Kojiro> "I'm not convinced that he was of the Dragon quite yet," Kojiro interjects, "the style could be used by another.  The kami also showed us his form becoming a bull.  I presume this will have some meaning once we find him."
01[00:05] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "Perhaps he's stubborn?"
[00:05] <Usagi_Okita> "Bull? That's interesting."
01[00:09] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "A bull... Or perhaps, an Ox?"
06[00:09] * Usagi_Okita looks up. "Ah, the Ox clan. Forgot them."
[00:10] <Usagi_Okita> "That would make more sense than a dragon, given the location."
06[00:12] * Isawa_Kojiro nods.  "What's the plan for the hideout then, if you've come up with one while we were gone?"
[00:13] <Usagi_Okita> "I think at this point us and the Blue Lotus want the same thing. We need to find out why those four were in hiding."
01[00:14] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "And why this Ox clan fellow is picking them off one by one."
[00:15] <Usagi_Okita> "Right. I think I have an idea how this fits with our own investigation, so maybe we can help each other."
[00:21] <Isawa_Kojiro> "Go on." Kojiro listens eagerly.
[00:22] <Usagi_Okita> "Well, the basic idea I have right now is that the killings of the Scorpion and these gangsters are related, that's all for now."
[00:22] <Usagi_Okita> "The only ties I have are the Gilded Cage."
01[00:30] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "It sounds like the enemy of our enemy is our friend."
[00:31] <Isawa_Kojiro> "At least until they turn on us," Kojiro notes, looking at the line of people feeding into the building.  "Think we should go in the main entrance then?"
[00:32] <Usagi_Okita> "Probably so. Sneaking around won't help our case."
01[00:33] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "Then let's make some friends.
06[00:37] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko walks over to the entrance of the Blue Lotus yakuza, ready to make some new friends.
06[00:39] * Isawa_Kojiro follows along behind, shaking his head good-naturedly at her constant use of the term.
06[00:39] * Usagi_Okita follows as well
[00:39] <~KingGheedorah> 6A few of the peasants, dock-workers and merchants scramble to get out of the way of the samurai, but for the most part there isn't much of a commotion. You find yourself face-to-face with an older gentleman with bad teeth and a bald, tattooed head. His companion is younger, roughly your age, and looks shifty and nervous. Both men are armed with bo staves.
[00:40] <~KingGheedorah> 6The older man bows. "Good afternoon, samurai-sans."
01[00:41] <Yoritomo_Chiyoko> "Good day to you too. We've got some things to talk to your leader about."
[00:47] <~KingGheedorah> 6He smiles, showing off a face full of rotting teeth. His breath is atrocious. "Leader, samurai-sama?"6 He laughs. "You must have mistaken us for some kind of 'gang'."
[00:48] <Usagi_Okita> "What you are or are not isn't of issue right now. Right now there's a problem that I believe concerns us both."
[00:50] <~KingGheedorah> 6He bows. "Respectfully, samurai-sama, we aren't doing anything illegal, here."
[00:52] <Usagi_Okita> "I'm not accusing you of illegal actions either. Right now, though, I think that you have something of a situation at four addresses in Old Kudo, and we think it's related to our investigation."
[00:54] <~KingGheedorah> 6He pauses. "I'm... not sure I follow, samurai-sama."
[00:55] <Usagi_Okita> "Then I'd like to speak to someone who does follow, please."
[00:56] <~KingGheedorah> "Investigation, samurai-sama?"6 He chews on the word for a few moments. "Are you... magistrates?"
06[00:57] * Usagi_Okita nods. "That's right. We're investigating a separate problem and we think it's related."
[01:02] <~KingGheedorah> 6He bows again, lower this time. "My apologies, magistrate-sama. Right this way."6 He hisses at the younger, shiftier door guard to "Go get the boss!"6 and then leads you inside, waving for some of the thugs milling about keeping an eye on the scene to take their place.
[01:06] <~KingGheedorah> 6Inside the large hut is very different from its exterior. The place exceedingly well-lit, with nary a shadow in sight. There are two rooms, the first taking up most of the available space. Long tables circle around the room, surrounded by peasants, sailors, dock-workers, merchants and ronin wagering away their hard-earned money. Sitting at the center of each of these tables are more
[01:06] <~KingGheedorah> 6Blue Lotus ruffians, keeping a keen eye on the gambling being done. Serving girls bring sake and rice balls to gamblers from a fairly well-stocked bar off to the side, staffed by yet more Blue Lotus. At the far end is a door guarded by two yakuza thugs.
[01:09] <~KingGheedorah> 6You note that, while the patrons of the club are clearly uneasy at the presence of samurai, none of the ronin or yakuza are. You also note that several of the ronin and yakuza are armed, and with swords.
06[01:16] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko smiles pleasently, as usual.
[01:21] <~KingGheedorah> 6It is to the back room that the charming older gentleman with the bad dental hygiene leads you. The two door guards - both armed with swords - step aside slightly to let you pass, but watch you carefully. You are led inside a small office, featuring little other than a writing desk and a large wooden box with a heavy and complicated-looking lock. Seated at the writing desk counting a
[01:21] <~KingGheedorah> 6staggering amount of koku is a large, burly man with shaggy hair and a thick beard. His skin is ruddy from long hours in the sun, and a scar runs across his right cheek from ear to jaw. His knuckles are thick and knobby, and despite his size he moves with surprising agility. He stands to greet you, standing about the same height as Kojiro, if perhaps slightly taller, and surprises you
[01:21] <~KingGheedorah> 6with his youth - despite the mane of hair, he looks to be in his middle twenties, if that. He eyes the swords at your hips and bows low, giving a questioning look to the door guard. "To what do I owe this meeting, samurai-samas?"
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[01:28] <Usagi_Okita> "We're Emerald Magistrates conducting an investigation, and we think our investigation and your troubles at four addresses in Old Kudo are related in some way."
[01:30] <~KingGheedorah> 6He holds up his hands defensively. "Emerald Magistrates! I think you may have the wrong man, samurai-sama. I'm not involved in... anything you'd be investigating, I can assure you."
06[01:32] * Usagi_Okita shakes his head. "Our investigation is not about you. It's about the murdered Scorpion emissaries. However, we ran across a piece of paper with some addresses on them and visited them this morning. We think that the problems you've had at those addresses is related to our own problems we're investigating."
[01:34] <~KingGheedorah> 6He scowls. "I heard about that. More samurai than ever in town since. It's been nothing but bad for business - if you'll pardon me, Magistrate-samas."
[01:34] <~KingGheedorah> "But... what addresses? And what problems? Samurai-sama."
06[01:35] * Usagi_Okita sighs and pulls out the piece of paper with the addresses. "Four of your men brought this paper to Tetsunori at the Gilded Cage last night. We visited these addresses this morning, but the people there were dead. I believe one of them was a part of your gang, not entirely sure about the others."
[01:36] <Usagi_Okita> "While we were investigating, some of your men arrived at one of the houses, and spoke of how the residents were safe last night."
[01:41] <~KingGheedorah> 6He holds out his hand. "May I? Samurai-samas."
06[01:42] * Usagi_Okita hands him the paper
[01:42] <~KingGheedorah> 6He squints at it. "Tetsunori, you say."
06[01:42] * Usagi_Okita nods. "That's right."
[01:48] <~KingGheedorah> "Huh."6 He hands you back the scrap of paper. "I don't know what to tell you, samurai-samas. But I didn't - and don't - know /anything/ about any of this. Four of my men are dead, you say?"
[01:49] <Usagi_Okita> "I can't be sure, only one was identifiable. One was burned beyond recognition, and all we found of the third was a scrap of grey cloth and a bloodstain."
[01:50] <~KingGheedorah> 6He scowls. "It sounds like Tetsunori got into some kind of trouble."
[01:54] <Usagi_Okita> "Looks that way. I'm concerned that whoever is targeting whatever he was up to is related to the emissary deaths."
[02:00] <~KingGheedorah> "I don't like it when my men go behind my back,"6 the large man says darkly.
06[02:01] * Usagi_Okita nods. "Of course. That said, we thought you were aware of this, so I apologize for the intrusion. Still, if you come up with information that might be of use to us about this, we would appreciate it if you kept us informed. We're currently staying at the Gilded Cage."
[02:05] <~KingGheedorah> "The... Gilded Cage?"6 He scratches his cheek to hide a smile. "Yes, of course, samurai-samas. I... know of it."
[02:07] <Usagi_Okita> "Then I won't take any more of your time. Let's go."
[02:07] <~KingGheedorah> "You didn't... happen to catch any names, did you? Samurai-samas. Of the men that were killed, or were 'investigating' the ones that were killed."
[02:08] <Usagi_Okita> "Names? No. Just four men who visited the Gilded Cage last night, then four different men this morning."
[02:11] <~KingGheedorah> "Perhaps Tetsunori will know, then."
06[02:11] * Usagi_Okita shrugs. "Perhaps, though I believe the Okaa-sama is currently in possession of him."
[02:12] <~KingGheedorah> 6He grins. "That may be the best news I've heard all day, samurai-sama."
[02:13] <Usagi_Okita> "Well, then glad to have helped."
[02:14] <~KingGheedorah> 6He grunts. "Of course, samurai-sama."
06[02:15] * Usagi_Okita nods to him as he leaves with the group back to the Gilded Cage
06[02:16] * Yoritomo_Chiyoko walks along behind them. 1"Like I said earlier. This is getting more and more bizarre."
06[02:17] * Usagi_Okita nods. "I completely agree. There's more to this town, and investigation, than we thought."
[02:17] <~KingGheedorah> 6As you exit the room, you can hear the oyabun call in the older man who guarded the door into the office. He closes the door as he steps inside.
[02:18] <~KingGheedorah> 6It takes a little over an hour to get back across town to the Gilded Cage. The streets seem empty here compared to the insane crush of people in Old Kudo, and yet it is a fairly busy day at the Kudo Mura marketplace.