Taiko drums boomed, hyoshigi sticks clapped, and bells of all shapes and sizes rang throughout the city. Children run the streets with pinwheels, sparklers or Den-Den Daiko drums in hand, zigzagging through clusters of festive adults parading with joy. There were performers at every turn, each serving a slice of Kujin clan culture to the willful passerby. The Asagao archer wooed by juggling arrows with one hand, then quickly slotting and releasing each one from her bow, hitting targets painted along stacks of hay with theatric finesse. The Tsubaki Shadow Puppeteer reenacted a folk tale about the old fish and trickster eel, dazzling crowds with silhouetted creatures manipulated by enchanted candle light fixtures. The Lotus Kabuki danced to the contemplative rhythms of a Koto instrumentalist, dressed in vibrant colors, fabrics, and make up. He then sang a beautiful song about the end of war, and the reunification of Kujin as one family. The song is called, The Wind That Carries Our Ashes Home, written by Shogun Useugi Mitsuhide himself.

Miles and miles away from the festive splendor of the city, he sits in his fleeting carriage. Though he cannot hear the Kabuki, each chord and note echoes deep within his heart as he looks upon the starry night sky. He smiles at the stream of twinkling paper lanterns floating to the clouds. It is both a beautiful and somber sight to behold, for each lantern personifies a departed soul, and their numbers were vast enough to rival the cosmos.

Memories of a blood soaked war clap at his mind like distant thunder. The slain bodies and agonized faces of death try to claw out from his nightmares and into his conscious routine. But like always, Useugi remains unphased. Tonight, the people of Kujin celebrate unity, and perhaps survival. As the lanterns disappear into the moon's radiance, the shogun vows that the dead will not die in vain. Kujin will live on as a strong and prosperous nation. No matter the consequence.



The shogun arrived by midnight. He slept through most of the journey, but the occasional pothole and whinnying of horses prevented any meaningful sleep. He was strongly advised against being transported in a thatchy farmer's carriage, but he insisted, for the royal lacquer of a shogun drew too much attention. He also refused an escort guard, so extra steps were taken to properly secure the route. Upon arrival at the undisclosed location, he was greeted by Unit Officer Nomi Masanori, who sheepishly bowed after mistaking the shogun and his carriage driver for lost peasants. It was to be expected. After all, Useugi wore a plain kimono with no emblem or design to implicate his status, and kept most of his face covered with a ragged wheat hat. The shogun laughed it off, but the man's behavior toward the lower cast didn't go unnoticed.

Nomi lead the shogun into a sectioned off manor that was right off the docks. From there, he met with Constable Saniro, the owner of this establishment, as well as a number of other key figures. Constable Saniro insisted the shogun make use of the manor's amenities after his long journey, but he went straight to the main living chambers. At the center of the room stood a large oak desk, maps, scrolls, and illustrations neatly organized along its edges.

"They will be arriving soon." The shogun said, making heads bow. "In the meantime we will make sure everything is in order."

Nomi Masanori bowed deeply, perhaps to still cower in shame from earlier. "Our Shinsengumi (secret police) have confirmed that the scrolls were all delivered five days ago. Most of the individuals you've requested are either en route or already in the city."

The shogun nodded approvingly. He reached over the pile of papers and grabbed a scroll. It was the original draft he wrote for the calligraphers to duplicate and send off to his invitees. He broke its wax lotus seal and unraveled it near the closest candle light.

"I dare not convey through fanciful words my most humblest request for your presence. It is with deep regret that I pry you from the greatest night of our lantern festival, but you are needed to maintain the peace we've worked so hard to achieve.

After reading this message, the courier will give you a package containing one block of gold. That is just a piece of the reward I am willing to offer you for the success of this mission.

The details will be expanded upon your arrival. Should you accept this invitation, the courier will tell you the exact time, date, and location of our meeting. If you refuse, please, take the block of gold as a gift.

Should you refuse after hearing the details of this mission, you will be rewarded for the inconvenience. We trust that regardless of your decision, the information you will acquire remains confidential."

Useugi stared at the waxed emblem stamped below the message, then threw it back on the table.

"Let us prepare."

The dawn of light was beginning to creep its way up and over the port city. This northeastern town was foreign to Hachi. He never even knew it existed until a week ago, when he opened a royal scroll and confirmed it with the courier that delivered it. Far up north from Kolat territories, nudged around a mountain range that snaked west into the lands of the Lotus, Odikawa was a quiet town that dealt with pirates more than civil wars. Hachi kept the scroll balled up in his pant sleeve. He uncrumpled it throughout the night, looking over the instructions the courier had written on its backside. He looked at it again.

Meet at the Manor with the Silver Crescent Emblem by sun rise.

Hachi, still tipsy from his sake-fueled night at the town's only watering hole, began his search. He eyed up and down every piece of architecture, but found no silver moon in sight. Checking off all of the buildings along the main street of the city, he lumbered his way over to the wharf. He'd stop every now and then, banging on doors to what he thought was the correct location, only to be shooed away with brooms and walking canes. Hachi was like a lost tourist oblivious to finding his destination. He hoped, at the very least, he’d get pointed in the right direction, but nobody seemed to know what he was talking about.

What useless fools! he thought. I’ll find it on my own!

And so he continued down the block, scaring the town folk as he searched for the house with a silver moon hanging on top of it.

Five days ago, Homura had the pleasure of tasting the blood of a Shinsengumi. It would have been a great story to tell Yoshiaki, except that she had the feeling that she would not be home for quite a long time.

If she had the chance, Aki would have told her sensei that she was wearing a gray haori over dark blue kimono, the one with white and peach autumn flowers that reminds her of the field where she used to play as a child. Her hair was gathered in a neat side bun, carefully decorated with flowers of the season. If her sensei would contest that she might have looked like a suspicious person, Aki would firmly say that she was not. That night, she was just another tourist surveying the lively tents of merchants selling products from all over Kujin. Aki even bought three bottles of her sensei’s favorite sake.

The Shinsengumi incident happened after she left the night market. Actually, she was half done with her sushi when she noticed the suspicious uniformed man watching her from under his straw hat. It made her decide to walk at a leisurely pace towards the exit. Towards somewhere dark and less crowded.

Her leisurely walk brought her to a shrine on top of a hill that overlooked the festivities. The distance muted its noise until only the sound of her geta (wooden sandals) tapping the stone steps and the soft rustling of the leaves could be heard. She did not know which deity the shrine was build for, but she did know that she will be offering a sacrifice of blood that night.

“Aki,” the syllables lingered in the cold autumn breeze. Such a soft sound, but to her it was like a clap of thunder. She acted out of instinct and attacked with a shuriken. He easily deflected it with his sword before taking a step towards her. The ninja would be a fool not to defend herself. She drew one of her short swords and ran towards the shrine, kicking off her geta in the process. Footsteps followed her, his speed picking up, but she was faster and nimbler. She hastily scaled the wall of the shrine, and knowing he was close, somersaulted once at the roof’s edge. She landed on her feet behind him. There was no time to waste. Before he can react, Aki used the momentum of her fall to push her forward and to drive her weapon into the Shinsegumi’s upper arm muscle. She pinned him to the wall as the sound of his cry drowned the hiss of metal as his samurai fell to the ground.

“How did you find me?” the ninja asked, putting pressure on the short sword’s hilt to keep her hostage in place.

He smiled despite his position. “It is not difficult to find a beautiful fac--” Aki moved the blade at an angle cutting him off. Through gritted teeth he continued, “I bear no intention to harm you, Kitsune. I bring a message from my lord.”

“How did you find me?” her voice came out in a low tone.

“The lord I represent, he has eyes and ears on the ground. If you will consider his request, your questions will be answered.”

Looking back, she thought that he should have said that sooner. It would have saved them both time, but the Shinsengumi had to provoke a ninja. Nevertheless, his injury was tended to and she even insisted on paying him for the damages made.

It was out of curiosity that she accepted the invitation. She hastily traveled to Odikawa, bringing with her the three bottles of sake. Two days later, it was the same three bottles that she used to bribe the head housekeeper of the manor with a silver crescent moon into accepting her services. She had to know who it was that summoned her and how he found her. It was clearly not the master of the house, because judging with the amount of preparation being done in her two days of working as a house staff, it was obvious that he was expecting someone important.

Try as it might, the rays of early sunlight could not rouse the bedraggled woman asleep from her straw bed. The landlady from whom she rented a night's rest indoors, anxious to have the last guest out of the house, had checked in several times. Initially it had taken some self-convincing that her temporary tenant was alive at all, but no, she was just asleep, albeit the deepest, most oblivious slumber the landlady had ever seen. The state the woman had been in when she arrived explained why, but after a time -when it became clear the sun and birdsong would not be sufficient- the landlady lost her patience.

Entering the room, she laid her hand on the sleeping woman's shoulder, and when that provoked no response began to shake. Only when the landlady joined her wake-up call to the shaking did the other woman begin to stir. Her eyelids slid open to reveal strange, pale irises that stared dully around the room, her vision bleary and indistinct. “Please wake up, miss!” The landlady was saying. “I am sorry, but you have to go! I need the room for the day! I'll give you ten minutes to get up and out.” With a final prod, she turned and vacated the room, leaving Momoko to wonder who she was, where she was, and how she got here.

Oh, yeah...

She sat up against the wall, rubbing her eyes. Bit by bit, the details got back to her. Five days ago she had been minding her own business, half-drunk and wistfully watching the festivities. A spell of spiritual peace had overtaken the area as of late, and money had grown short, though her spending habits were more than likely just as much to blame. The next day, she knew, she would have had to choose between food and lodging, meaning another miserable night nestled against a tree. Out of the blue, however, a messenger had appeared. An ordinary boozer would not have been able to converse with the stranger, much less read the scroll he proffered, but Momoko was no ordinary boozer. In a matter of moments she'd digested what the message had to say and told its courier that she agreed to its proposition, then pocketed the promised gold. After that, the festival days had been very enjoyable indeed, though Momoko found herself able to recall precious little of it.

Shrugging off the stupor that still clung to her, she rose from her bed and dressed herself. A look through the shutters revealed a port town, not too shabby but by no means upscale, which meant she'd managed to reach her destination. Good... she concluded, relieved, and she went to dress herself. As ferocious as her binges might be, she paid special attention to her kimono, since it was not only her favorite but also part of her popular image, so she was glad to confirm no more than the odd wine stain as she slipped it on. From there, she fingered through her satchel to find her comb, then used it to tidy up her hair. It's getting pretty long, she mused, though she wasn't thinking of cutting it, since it posed no real issue. She knew she'd been drinking last night, not as much through memory or deduction as self-knowledge, but nary an ache troubled her head. In fact, despite the cheap lodging, she felt pretty good.

Her eyes widened, and she searched through the satchel again. As the second passed, her mouth turned into a disbelieving smile. “No way I spent it all...whole gold bar's wortha cash...” At the bottom, she turned up a handful of coins, and sighed. Better than she would have thought, but worse than she would have hoped. After putting her things away, including the basin and pipe she'd hidden under her bed, she stood up to straighten herself out.

A knock at the door made her jump, yelping in surprise. “It's been ten minutes! Get out of my house!” Sheepishly, Momoko finished tying her belt, put on her sandals, and slunk past the disapproving landlady out the front door.

Once back on the road, she looked left, then right. Wonder if there's anywhere for breakfast. She glanced at the basin dangling from her satchel-strap. “Ah, who am I kiddin'. Got breakfast right here.” Undoing the latch with a single, practiced motion borne of extreme familiarity, she lifted the bowl to her lips. By the time it got there, it had a few cups' worth of plum wine in it, and she drank the lot in less than a second. She licked her lips, a tingling sensation running through her mind, and exhaled. Good thing I don't get tired of that taste, huh? A second drink came to pass while she tried to remember where to go, then gave up and fetched the letter to reread. “Silver crescent,” she murmured aloud before returning the basin to its strap. The end of the summons bade her look at the sky, where the sun was moments away from leaving the horizon behind, and she gave another sigh. “Hope they don't mind...me bein' a little late.” With as much of a spring in her step as she could muster, she hurried down the road.

Four days ago...

Takeo Akizawa; Daimyo of the Akizawa family of the Asagao clan, was meeting with three of his most trusted advisers in the family's homestead early that morning. The men that were with him have known Takeo since his childhood. There was Haruto; head of Akizawa constabulary, Kaito; head of Akizawa military, and finally Riku; head of Akizawa economics and land management. Takeo learned early that if he was not going to be bogged down by managing the family's affairs that he needed to appoint allies that he trusted but more importantly were very capable. Aside from bi-weekly meetings with his inner circle he didn't need to do much else, these men pretty much managed everything under his rule. This provided with Takeo with a lot of time to pursue the "finer things" in life.

"After years of pursuing and pressuring the Asagao clan members who betrayed us at the Battle at Kanaki, we believe most of them either absolutely fear us or will be very wary to ever betray our family ever again," said Kaito. Takeo slowly taking a sip of his morning tea then replies, "We must continue on the pressure until we completely break them. Never again will our clan be defeated because of cowardice." He looks to Riku and asks, "How are preparations for this year's festival going?" As Riku was about to reply when a servant knock on the room and Takeo bids him to enter. "Sir there is a scroll with the Shogun Lotus seal and a bar of gold here for you," said the servant to the Daimyo. Normally, scrolls a take a few more day longer to arrive, but not scrolls from the Shogun. Takeo takes the scroll and reads it intently in silence as his advisers eagerly await the message hidden within the scroll.

"After years of pursuing and pressuring Asagao clan members who betrayed us at the Battle at Kanaki, we believe most of them either absolutely fear us or will be very wary to ever cross our family ever again," said Kaito. Takeo slowly drinking his morning tea then replies, "We must continue on the pressure until we completely break them. Never again will our clan be defeated because of cowardice." He looks to Riku and asks, "How are preparations for this year's festival going?" Riku was about to reply when a servant knock on the room and Takeo bids him to enter. "Sir there is a scroll with the Shogun Lotus seal and a bar of gold here for you," said the servant to the Daimyo. Takeo takes the scroll and reads it in silence as his advisers eagerly await the message hidden within the scroll.

"This honorific scroll is an invitation from the Shogun for a "mission," Takeo says sarcastically. Haruto quickly chimes in, "The Shogun that we fought against wants us to go on a mission for him? That's rich." They all laugh and smile at the notion. Takeo then says, "Although… I have always wanted to go deep into Lotus territory. Plus, we need to be strategic how we approach these things. We don’t want our family to stand out because we are unwilling to answer a call from the Shogun." Takeo takes another sip of his tea and continues, “I do love that there is a bar of gold with this scroll. What need to I have for a bar of gold? Maybe I can use it as pocket money to pay for leisurely activities when I’m at Odikawa.” Riku then asks, “Are you seriously considering going then, and if you are will you be leaving in the next few days?” Takeo smiles and says, “Didn’t you hear me say that I want to enjoy the leisurely activities Inoue & Odikawa has to offer. Tell the stable that I want my horse ready in an hour. I will leave immediately.” By then his advisers have become used to the Daimyo taking off to adventures whenever he felt like it. “Let it be so sire. Happy hunting then,” replied Riku.




Three days ago...

After a day of riding from Akizawa Castle Takeo arrives at Odikawa with his favourite horse Kisa. Kisa was a beautiful white horse with a strong build and was trained for battle riding since he was born. Takeo seemed to match his horse with his white kimono on with the insignia of the Akizawa crest on the linings of it. Hanging on his right side was his daisho (katana & wakizashi) and on his left was his red hoate (mask).


Takeo and Kisa had already stopped at a couple of inns on the way for drinks before arriving at the city. The city is notably quieter compared to Inoue. He stops a man on the street and asks him, “Dear friend, where is the best place for a traveller to stay in the city?” Then the man directs him toward the massive Odikawa inn in the center of the city and says, “That is the best place in the entire city, but there is likely no place left because of the flower festival.” Takeo thanks the man and bids him bye as he rides off towards the inn.

Takeo walks in the inn and says, “I want your best room and all the top service you can offer.” The keeper looks coolly at him and smiles judgingly before saying, “Friend this place is fully booked because of the… ” but before the keeper could finish his thought, Takeo throws a bar of gold in the air, pulls out his wakizashi and slices it in half. While the bars were still falling in the air he grabs one with his left hand and quickly puts it in back in his kimono and with the side of his wakizashi balances the other bar and presents it the inn keeper. “I think this should serve me for a very long time, wouldn’t you say so?” The keeper stutters, “Ye.. yes sire, of course we will have everything ready for you in a few minutes. May I know your name sire?” Takeo looks, smiles at him and says, “You don’t need to know my name but I need yours.” The keeper promptly replies, “My name is Akihiko, and we will take care of all of your needs.” Akihiko runs off and starts yelling at his servants to get everything prepared.

For the next few days Takeo would develop a routine for his stay at the port city. His routine involved sleeping till mid-day, waking up and practicing with his daisho for an hour, then exploring the city until evening all through the night when he would enjoy the ”finer things”. By the day of the meeting Takeo already knew the location of all the inns, bars, restaurants, baths, and other institutions that provided “fun services” in the city. He also knew other information such as the city’s constabulary size, identified possible members of the Shinsengumi, the schedule of boats coming into the port, strategic points in the city, and people coming in and out of the city.

On the day of the meeting…

Takeo woke up early and went to a breakfast shop that overlooked the manor with the silver crescent emblem. He watch intently the whole day as people went in and out. He tried to remember the faces of everyone he saw. After having breakfast, which was Natto and a fried egg on rice with miso soup, he stayed until he had lunch too, which has Omurice (Omelette Rice). After feeling satisfied that he had gathered as much information as he could he started to walk towards the manor. He looked at his mask and whispered, “We might need to do some work pretty soon my dear friend.”

Kasumi Hishi

It was a night just like any other for Kasumi. Having no master to serve meant she had to accept some odd jobs if she wanted to survive. Jobs like espionage, infiltration, escorting someone important or even dealing with some bandits were pretty common and made around half of the money she earned. The other half... Well... The other half came from wealthy artisans or merchants that hired her not because they heard about her, but just due to her pretty body, face and to have a chance to get under her clothes. Those types were usually incredibly easy to seduce and deceive. Beautiful clothes, kimonos, gifts and even money were given to her by them while she simply kept her distance, doing just enough to keep them interested. A discreet smile was usually more than enough to melt their hearts.

Regarding the rest of the jobs she took, most of them could be taken by people who weren't nearly as trained as she was. While most Shinobi or Kunoichi would see those jobs as an offense to their skills, Kasumi had few other options but to accept those. Jobs were rare to come by and even though most of them were a waste of time, one of them could possibly lead her to a new master. Another troubling matter was that it's not that easy to make a name for yourself and be recognized, if you are a ninja. Only very few people knew about how skilled Kasumi was, and amongst them, even fewer knew who she was, or at least who she used to be before the fall of the Tsubaki clan.

After a request to protect a merchant and it's shipment of spices and silk, Kasumi was left near Odikawa. Other than the merchant's attempts to buy her with more money, gifts and after she rejected him, trying to sneak on her in the middle of the night, nothing that bad happened. In fact, nothing happened at all. Kasumi had serious doubts that the merchant in question just hired her to have some 'company' during the trip. At least she was rewarded for all that with a decent amount of money for such an easy job, enough to pay for a good place for her to sleep for some time and even buy some things for her to tend to her hair and skin, a few herbs to make poisons and a couple of new clothes that the merchant gave her.

When she finally arrived on Odikawa she was greeted by the beautiful sight of the city decorated due to the flower festival. Even at night, the atmosphere was certainly different from any other time of the year. As she walked through the city after paying for a room on one of the few inns that still had any space left, she couldn't help but to wonder... Could it be a mere coincidence that from so many other cities she could have gone, she went right to Odikawa and just when the flower festival was happening? The good amount of coins carefully stored in a pouch under her clothes said otherwise. Maybe that was a signal from the heavens... Even a kunoichi had to take a break from time to time. Besides that... She was craving some of the typical dishes from festivals for some time now. With spare money and some very luxurious new clothes, thanks to that pervert merchant, she had no reason to not enjoy the festival for even a bit.

"Good evening, young lady. Enjoying the flower festival?" the vendor asked just as she stopped nearby a small store just on the side of the main road.

"Yes, I was on my way to my uncle's mansion and I simply couldn't help but to stop on Odikawa for a bit. It's been so long since I went to a festival..." Kasumi said, with a kind smile as she passed her hand trough her long, black hair. Impersonating a foolish girl, daughter of some rich merchant or noble wasn't that hard. Most of those types were pretty ignorant about the world and thought that everything was just a sea of roses. The only aspect of her figurine that was a bit off was her hair. Instead of keeping it in a bun, like most noblewomen did, Kasumi preferred to keep it tied in a practical ponytail. Surely it was a bit exotic and it drew some stares as she really stood out from other women, especially due to her delicate face and her unique, penetrating blue eyes, but the carefree smile often was enough to make most overlook those small details.

"Oh, I must say then, young lady, that you came in the perfect moment! The night is still young and there are a lot of things to see around here." the man continued, smiling back to her.

"I would like some of those sakuramochi then, please!" Kasumi said, handing a few coins to the vendor.

After getting them, she resumed walking. She couldn't help but let out a small smile as she bit one of them. She had already dropped her 'carefree rich girl' mask, but she was still a woman. And the sweet taste of those sakuramochi made her remember of when she was just a young apprentice. Her sensei used to buy some of those to her every time that a festival happened since she couldn't go out whenever she liked due to all the secrecy behind the training of an elite ninja squad.

"Kasumi Hishi... You're definitely different from what I've heard... It was really hard to find you... I was expecting to see a kunoichi, and not an innocent, pretty face... You're definitely hard to track, Kasumi. Congratulations. " A voice interrupted Kasumi coming from an alley just nearby the main street, making her draw the Daikamaitachi, opening it in front of her mouth as other women usually did to hide their expressions from other men when talking to them, especially when flirting.

"Kasumi...? I think you're mistaken about who I am..." Kasumi asked, turning to face the owner of the voice, a very suspicious looking, hooded courier.

Many questions ran through her head on just the few seconds it took for the courier to answer her. Who was him? How did he knew her name? By the way he spoke, he definitely knew who she was...

"Drop the act. I know who you are, Kunoichi. We don't have much time." The courier continued, lifting the hood that hid his face.
"I'm here for business. My name or who I am is not important. What you need to know is who I work for." He completed, extending a scroll. Even partially hidden in the shadows of that dim lit alley, the Shogun Lotus' seal was unmistakable. Even though the Tsubaki had fallen to the Lotus clan, Kasumi held no quarrel against them. While she was indeed born and raised within Tsubaki territory, she never saw the one she worked for personally, so she didn't have that sense of duty and loyalty the samurais and some other ninjas had.

Quickly going in the alley with an agile step, Kasumi sheathed her Tessen. Waiting for the courier's next words.

"Take it and read it. Further information will be given to you if you decide to accept the request." The courier said, handing over the block of gold and the letter. Money was... useful, but what made Kasumi interested wasn't the money itself, but the fact that she was being requested by someone who knew she was. Maybe... Just maybe... he could be her new 'master'...

"Location, time and date?" Kasumi repeated with an expressionless face, looking to the courier. Getting closer to her, the courier whispered her the necessary information, which Kasumi quickly memorized.

"I can get ready in just a few minutes if that's your lord's wish. I need only to wear my equipment." Kasumi said with a discreet nod, telling him she would be there on the said date and time.

As she walked away, she put the last bit of sakuramochi on her mouth, finishing eating it as she went back to the inn she had hidden her ninja clothes and equipment. Wearing it in just a moment, she opened the window, letting the moonlight get in the dark room. The white light of the moon reflected on the metal spikes and bladed edges of her Tessen, making them glow in a beautiful white, contrasting with the deep black color of the silk. Kasumi wasn't going to lie to herself, she was excited. It's been a long time since she had a job worthy of her skills, too long...

Oh, how he truly did loathe the ocean. It was the only thing that could spoil an otherwise perfect city such as this.

Odikawa was a peaceful place, beautiful and untroubled. You could tell by the way the people behaved; the citizens in the streets looked happy and relaxed, they moved at their own paced and appeared unconcerned. Nobody rushed about or felt the need to look over their shoulder or keep a tight grip on their coin purses the way people did in larger cities. People felt safe here.

And if the way they looked at him was any indication, it was a place unaccustomed to seeing warriors such as him. A man walking down the street in full armour and bearing weapons always attracted attention no matter where he was, but here that attention was more pronounced, an indication that they were unused to seeing such sights, and it was positive; the citizens pointed at him in wonder and excitement rather than bowing their heads or watching him warily from the corners of their eyes. An even clearer indication that they were not accustomed to trouble.

It was the kind of city where a washed up old solider like him belonged. A place to quietly retire and live out the rest of his days forgetting what it ever felt like to wield a bow or hold a sword. Or at least it would be were it not for that accursed expanse of water off in the distance.

Putting aside old fears and new contemplation’s for now, Yamagata turned to look at the building before him. Right next to the docks seemed like a strange place for a manor, being surrounded as it was by the smell of fish and the ever present cacophony of dock workers and creaking ships; Yamagata had expected it to be on the other side of town, far away from the water and high above the rest of the town, though perhaps that had just been his wishful thinking.

Regardless of what he thought however, the silver crescent moon-shaped emblem adorning the entranceway proved this was the right location. Perhaps the official who lived here wished to be close to the source of his money, to better watch over the dock and its workings. Or perhaps he just wanted to make sure everyone could see the fine house he had had built for him. Either way, Yamagata was sure they would come to regret it once the wood started to rot out from under him.

Approaching the entrance to the manor and the guard who watched over it, Yamagata subconsciously placed a hand over his breast where he had hidden the message he had received under his armour. The guard eyed him warily as he neared, no doubt making note of the tanto at his belt and the bow and arrows on his back; Yamagata chose to ignore this, but nonetheless made sure to keep his hands were they were visible and moved slowly so as not to cause undue alarm.

Stopping a comfortable distance away from the young guard Yamagata addressed him clearly, but vaguely, hoping the guard would understand his meaning without him having to prove it. “I’m here to answer the summons.”

And maybe find out why the Shogun decided to summon me of all people.

---

Even before the rays of light had peaked over the horizon, Botan had awoken early to begin seeking the manor with the crescent moon. The smell of salt and brine filled the morning air of the small coastal town of Odikawa. It seemed like an odd location to be summoned for Botan, he was more accustomed to the interior of the Lotus Clan's territory, the fields and forests where he was born, but Botan felt honor bound to answer it. Walking the near empty roads, the few people he asked for directions gave him little help in finding the manor. All he could do was wander around and hope to stumble upon the manor. He gripped a small pendant he carried with him, as a means of good luck. He felt like he would need as much luck as he needed for why he had been summoned.

In truth, the summon had not been for him originally but for his master, Sosa Yatoza. Unfortunately news had yet to seemingly travel far of the old samurai's recent passing. It came down to Botan to answer the summon in his place instead as well as deliver the news of his master's passing. Sosa Yatoza had been a renowned samurai of the minor Tongai Clan. Early on in the war the clan had wished to avoid the battles and only protect their own way of life but had been soon dragged into it. Facing the near destruction of the clan itself, it had been Sosa to come up with the deal to join the Lotus Clan. They would serve the Lotus Clan while keeping the Tongai Clan alive. Botan had been honored to be one of his pupils, even more so when gifted with one of his master's ancient gifts, a unique ring that was said to make the user seemingly quick in continuous combat. The summons was his chance to define his own path but also a means of keeping the memory of Sosa Yatoza alive.

Eventually his wandering payed off, finding the manor close to the docks, the silver crescent moon adorning the entryway. Soon he could get answers on what the summon was about and decide if the task that would be given to him would be something to take upon with whomever else had been summoned. Walking up to the door, Botan gave a bow to the guard and pulled out the worn summon message as proof of being summoned by the owner of the manor before entering.

The two story building is surrounded by snow-colored fauna, sprouting from soil edged onto the wooden docks. You notice Odikawa patrolmen posted along the perimeter, trafficking fishermen and dock workers away from the manor. You've found yourself at the double door entrance of the Crescent Moon Manor where two honor guards watch your every move. They both wear the blue and white samurai armor of the Lotus Clan, armed and ready. After revealing your documents and checking a list of names, the honor guards let you through. As you enter, another pair of guards asks that you check in your weapons and enchanted items. Both are armed with enchanted devices that flickers as they scan your body. After they strip you of your equipment, they neatly stack your belongings along a row of weapon racks. You are then welcomed by a warm smile from an old female servant dressed in a cherry blossom-colored kimono.



You are eventually lead through widely spaced rooms and into an expansive living chamber. There, you will find more servants lined up along the beautiful, mural-painted walls. They are eager to serve tea, sake, or anything else you so reasonably desire. At the center is a large, short-legged table with cushions strategically placed around its edges. You are humbly asked to sit at any area along its edges, the foot of the table being the only exception, as it is reserved by a raised dai with a mat on each side. One-by-one more people trickle in, joining at the table. After a certain amount of time, the servant that escorted you into this room smiles once more, stepping forward to make an announcement:

"Wonderful guests, thank you for coming," She said with a polite bow. "We apologize for our strict security measures. Your items will be returned to you shortly. I've also been instructed to inform you to please wait in this room a little while longer. Our Sh-, ahem, hosts, will be arriving soon. Thank you!"

With a courteous bow, she slowly backs away and disappears from sight, leaving the servants ready to serve and guests left alone to mingle.

In an unfamiliar place, a warrior stood out because of his potential threat. Even in a locale visited by hungry bandit troops, frequented by swaggering pirates, and patrolled by zealous samurai watchmen, a new face that came bearing new arms seldom failed to catch the eye of the cautious or the opportunistic. As she approached the docks, where she'd determined that the Crescent Moon Manor resided, Momoko spotted a few such individuals drawing glances from the citizens. Yet, when she drew near, the attention of the crowds invariably passed to her.

By now Momoko neither acknowledged or cared about the affronted looks of shock and intrigue that sailed her way. Long ago she'd decided how to present herself, and to say her decision came about for the sake of her work, while not wrong, would not even be half the truth. She dressed in this wildly improper manner, which not even the sultry shogi women employed, specifically to set herself apart. Everywhere she went her appearance was seared into the minds of her onlookers. Later, through questioning and rumor, they would learn she was a mystic of a vanished, erudite order, or something to that effect. What they thought of her did not matter—only that when something went bump in the night, they knew who to send for. At the very least, she felt a bit of elation that a few of the Odikawans, whispering a furtive three-syllable word that the priestess recognized as her name, seemed to recognize her. Hopefully the fact that her reputation had preceded her to this shaded port town meant that her future would be a bit brighter. I'll drink to that thought. And she did.

When Momoko spotted patrolmen surrounding the manor, she knew that she came to the right place. By the time she arrived, the townfolk knew that the officials surrounding the manner would permit no approach, so Momoko peeled away from the crowd and approached with no obstacles. Her face grew surly as she recognized the coat of arms adorning the samurai flanking the manor's main entrance. Lotus. Warmongers, fiends, murderers, tricksters. Wonder if these ones fought in the war...how much blood they wiped from their blades. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she drew nearer. She presented the letter, still clutched in her hand, and with a gruff, “You're late” the guards permitted her to enter.

Before she could get four steps in she found herself accosted by more security. She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, only to blanch when they asked her to hand over her enchanted items. “Uh...” The urge to leave rushed over her like a tidal wave. Part with her basin and pipe? She'd be defenseless, and worse, wine-less. But could she really back out now, and pass up the funds promised to her? Now that she thought about it, this entire venture reeked of a trap. Use money to trick me into going somewhere...strip me of my things...these next few minutes could very well be my last. Must have been drunk when I accepted this deal. “Heh,” she murmured, amused at the thought. Her eyes passed over a set of nearby weapon racks, their pegs and slots filled with all manner of equipment. At least I'm not the only one. Hopefully, that meant that there were others in this boat with her—others who might be convinced to protect her should things go sour. Too late to back out now anyway, now that I'm inside. With reluctance she produced her pipe, then with a glance of pained longing, forked over the basin. Feeling uncomfortably like she was leaving a part of her behind, Momoko allowed herself to be led into the manor's interior.

Upon entering the exquisite main chamber, she clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Whoops. Guess I'm pretty late.” Five other distinct individuals preceded her, none of whom she happened to know, though this did not surprise her. A well-built, dignified elder clad in green...a gorgeous woman in black, of whom Momoko was instantly a little jealous...a scarred soldier bearing the traditional chonmage topknot alongside a less-traditional goatee...a rather normal woman in red...and a large, formidable man with only armor over his torso. The wildness of his hair and face suggested a bold, free-wheeling nature, one who did not bother with society's propriety. Momoko's eyes remained on that last man a little longer than the rest, prompting her guide to request that she join the others at the table. Not responding to the servant woman, the priestess obliged, sauntering over and plopping down upon a cushion at the table. Without even ten seconds' wait she raised her hand to signal the servant. “Sake, please! And mochi or senbei, if you have it.” She leaned forward and put her elbow onto the table, resting her head in the same arm's hand. Smiling, and with eyes half-lidded, she told the others, “I haven't eaten,” as if it were something to be proud of, or as if any of them would care.

Kasumi Hishi

"Lotus guards..." Kasumi thought to herself as she arrived in front of the crescent moon manor. Odikawa patrolmen and now Lotus guards guarding the entrance. Apparently that was indeed the correct location. Not exactly 'inconspicuous' nor hidden but on her opinion it wasn't the ideal.

As she showed the invitation to the guards and after them checking her name on a list, Kasumi finally got in. As the second pair of guards started scanning her for weapons and enchanted items, Kasumi thought to herself. Was it normal to not harbor any particular kind of ill will against the very clan who was responsible for destroying the old clan she worked for? As a servant silently guided her through many rooms until they got to a big living chamber, Kasumi couldn't find a drop of anger or resentment towards the Lotus clan even if she tried. She remembers how loyal some of the other ninjas were to the Tsubaki clan. But her... Even being born inside Tsubaki territory, she was raised by her masters. The missions she went were always given by her masters. She didn't served the Tsubaki clan, she served her ninja clan, she served her sensei. Even though the ninja clan was no more, she knew he was still alive, after all, she was still alive and it was him who trained her...

Sitting down in one of the positions designed to the guests, Kasumi simply waited, carefully scanning her surroundings as she waited for the one who contracted her. As the time passed, more people started joining the table. Some started serving themselves with sake, which was on the table for whoever wanted to drink, others preferred tea, but Kasumi simply sat down quietly, speaking nothing as she analyzed the other guests.

Warriors, both old and young, some displaying scars and a body that would easily pass for that of a half-giant of the stories kids read, others displaying an exemplar physical despite their age coupled with wise and experienced eyes. But amongst those warriors, there were also two other women. A normal woman wearing red clothes whose eyes kept many secrets. The other one was a rather carefree woman wearing a thigh length cut, violet kimono, of the type Kasumi herself would use if she was trying to seduce a target. Her long hair and soft physique were probably signs that she wasn't a fighter herself. But unlike the other guests, as she looked towards the violet kimono girl, something rang on the back of her mind. She had already heard about a woman like that back when she was part of the Tsubaki clan. Provocative clothes, carefree behavior, black, long hair... But as much as she tried, unfortunately she wasn't able to remember who was this woman of the stories she heard on the clan. But after looking to the woman for a bit while she dismissed that as probably just a coincidence. After all... what were the odds that she would meet someone from the Tsubaki clan there, on Lotus territory...

After a brief while, the same old female servant who guided her to that room stepped forward, thanking them for coming, apologizing for the strict security measures and saying for them to wait a bit more for the hosts to arrive.

"If I'll have to wait, I might finish the meal their courier interrupted..." Kasumi thought to herself, raising her hand to call a servant.

"A sakuramochi please. A single one will suffice." Kasumi whispered to the servant, as she waited for her sakuramochi to arrive. She really enjoyed those sweet treats and unfortunately, she was able to give only a single bite on the last one she bought due to the courier's interruption...

---

Upon entering the mansion, Botan had been asked to remove his weapon and artifacts. Reluctantly, he complied handing over his weapon, rings, and the non enchanted pendant. Once the guards cleared him that he had given all enchanted equipment and weapons to them he was allowed to entire further into the elegant mansion. He was welcomed inside and lead down several rooms before entering the living area that had been arranged for a good number of people.

Sitting down in one of the positions that was still unoccupied, Botan sat, examining his surroundings and those who had arrived before him. It seemed that quite a few people had been summoned by their mysterious guest. It intrigued him that someone would summon so many, making his mind wander once more on what could of been so important to summon him let alone so many others? While waiting he accepted the offer of tea. While he didn't have much taste for tea, he was parched from the journey and hadn't had anything since the breakfast that morning.

Looking around the room, he could see young and old warriors, no doubt with varying skills and from separate clans, but all had that same presence to them of being people who had experienced fights or battles.

It was indeed somebody important – the guest that the whole household was preparing for. Aki had her hunches, but she was surprised to learn that the master of the manor was expecting none other than Shogun Mitsuhide himself. She discovered that truth when she was asked to bring refreshments for the men who arrived at midnight the night before. The surprise was quickly replaced by apprehension though. What would the shogun want from her?

The ninja also learned from snooping around that the shogun sent several invitations, possibly to notable warriors and spies. It was a risk for her. She considered the option to walk away with the block of gold, which was enough to finance her journey back to the Kawaka Mountains as well as purchase several bottles of her sensei’s favorite sake. The risk was that her face would be known to strangers who she would most likely meet in the manor. One or more of the strangers, whose names kept eluding her, might be a friend or a relative of somebody she assassinated in the past, or an old enemy, or part of a recent mission. Anything could happen. What was not sitting too well with her was the fact that she would have no control over the outcome.

Nevertheless, it was a summon from the shogun, an opportunity that not a lot of ninjas receive. It could be the same as when she used to work for the last Blade Emperor. Donning a red kimono over her kusarikage, she snuck out of the manor in the early hours of the new day just before sunrise. If she could, she would advise the shogun to have a word with his security staff, because it was not good that she infiltrated the manor so easily. Aki also decided not to wear her shinobi mask as it would be too conspicuous walking the street of Odikawa in a mask, plus it was the quickest giveaway as to who she was.

As the sun peeked at the horizon, she returned to the manor by the docks with a silver crescent moon. The smell of the sea filled the air as a gentle breeze blew wisps of her ponytail to her face and lightly caressed the hem of her kimono. That morning, she found herself in front of the double doors instead of sneaking at the back. One of the samurais guarding the entrance stared at her curiously, contemplating perhaps what a woman would want to have to do with him, but no question was raised when she produced the document.

The second set of guards asked her to deposit her weapons, which she did without question. She understood the strict measure being implemented, because of the person who would be sitting in the same room as her that day. It took her a while to take off her enchanted equipment, because the guards objected heavily when she started stripping down her kimono. She was instead ushered to an ante room where she was able to remove the enchanted light chainmail she wore under her kimono. When she handed the equipment to the bashful samurais, she couldn’t help but notice a blush creeping into the otherwise stoic features of the guards.

When she was cleared to enter the manor, she was welcomed by a servant whose name she learned was Umeji Tatsumi. The old woman’s eyes widened as she greeted Aki, who she knew only as the new maid servant. Aki smiled and raised a finger to her lips, a gesture for Tatsumi not to say a word. Although surely some of the maid servants would recognize her.

Tatsumi led the ninja to a spacious living chamber. She was the first to arrive.

Yamagata quietly sipped his green tea as he waited for their ‘host’ to arrive. He had arrived early, as he had planned, but surprisingly he was not the first; when he had been asked to relinquish his weapons and enchanted items another set of equipment already lay in a neat pile to one side. A thin shirt of chainmail and a pair of short swords were the stand out items, but there was also a small collection of items and weapons that Yamagata had learned to associate with ninjas.

Contemplating this information as he removed his own gear, setting his bow and quiver against the wall as he removed his armour and laid his tanto before it, Yamagata wasn’t sure what to make of a ninjas presence here. He was even less sure what to think when he saw the ninja in question. As he was led into the room the only other person present was a young woman in a red kimono; she was clearly not another servant, but also did not fit his image of what a ninja would look like. But then, wasn’t that exactly the point?

Taking the seat opposite the young woman, Yamagata requested a bottle of green tea and settled in to wait. As time passed more and more people began to arrive and seat themselves at the table; mean and women, young and middle aged, there didn’t seem to be much of a pattern to those who arrived aside from the fact that they were all younger than him. But all of the men appeared fit and strong, some bearing the scars of battle, and while the women were all beautiful he already suspected one of being a ninja and had no reason to think the others weren’t equally dangerous.

As the spaces around the table began to fill up the presence of the empty seat at the head of the table became more and more obvious. Yamagata continued to sip his tea and tried to calm his nerves.