Definitely seek old contacts, as discreetly as possible, let's get the lay of the land before we start making our presence known.
Turn 15
Nara park, NaraPatting the last small deer as it gobbles up the remainder of the trail mix he threw on the ground, Hideki ponders if he could find any of his old contacts in the city still. Getting a lay of the land before beginning his plans would be a good idea. It might be difficult to find them in these trying times. Though he has only been away for a few months at most, the news of his clan's demise and all the rumours that come with that are sure to have reached this place long ago. His old contacts and comrades in arms are sure to have taken their precautions, if they haven't just gone off the grid completely by now. But, come heaven or hell, even if the city were about to be crushed by a drop falling from the tip of the jade spear of the heavens, there is one place in this town where Hideki is sure to find someone he knows...
The deer trots off after its mother as Hideki walks away from the palace, towards the seedy underbelly of Nara.
Red light district, NaraHideki walks the streets of the Nara red light district, feeling quite at home. He has walked these countless times, the humdrum of massage parlors, hostess bars and drunken partygoers making him feel right at home. In these crowds any man could blend in. Finally at his destination, Hideki pushes aside the cloth drapes that hang in the doorway to Sayo's Snackhouse. Though it might look like any other snackhouse in the red light district, looks can be decieving. Sayo, the proprietress of the establishment, is not called the Diva of Nara for nothing. Anyone who is something in Nara, seedy underbelly or not, comes to this place. Privacy and excellent service are worth more than a gaudy decor, and Sayo delivers. It is said that on new year's eve, the Courtesan of Death herself hires Sayo to cater her parties.
When Hideki enters the elderly Sayo is at her usual spot at behind the reception desk, welcoming patrons and giving guidance to her serving girls. Already nearing the end of her 50th summer, she still looks full of life and carries herself with an air of vigor and dignity. She wears an understated grey kimono of high quality with a black sash and has her hair done up like one of the classic geisha's. She is smoking her Kiseru, the long and narrow pipe traditional to Nippon. When she sees Hideki enters she recognizes him even beneath the grime and wear of his months long journey. She smiles and taps out her pipe into the ashtray.
"As I live and breathe, if it isn't Hideki. I was told you perished along with the rest of your clan.""Not quite, Sayo. It will take more than a few assassins to kill me.""As expected from the Shogun's Shadow, of course. I take it you're not here for pleasantries?""No, business as usual I'm afraid. I was wondering if any of my old contacts have been around.""As you probably expected, most of the people I regularely catered to for you have pretty much dissapeared into thin air once the news of your clan reached these parts. But fear not, some of them are still around. In fact, Tsuki is here right now. I'll get one of my girls to bring you to her.""Thanks, Sayo. And, please, keep this as discreet as possible.""Hideki, you hurt me. You know what I say. What happens in the snackhouse, stays in the snackhouse." She taps her pipe onto the ashtray, the metal on metal giving an eerie ringing sound.
"...or else."Right away, one of the serving girls leads Hideki to one of the back rooms. When he enters, he sees Tsuki is sitting around a small table, drinking with two other women and being merry. She is a young woman in her late twenties, with jet black hair tied up in a ponytail and a small scar running along her right cheeck. She is currently wearing a casual kimono. Despite her appearance, Hideki knows all too well what she is capable of. She trained under him for quite some time, becoming an accomplished ninja in her own right. A blur with knives and a deadly shot, not many were deadlier than her when striking from the shadows. Several years ago, she quit her work as a ninja to work for Sayo. She now heads the Hyakka, the all-female secret police of Nara's red light district. Working undercover as courtesans and prostitutes, they dispense swift and terrible justice to any who would break the red light district's merriment.
"Nagayoshi-dono! You're alive!"With a curt nod she dismisses the two women, who file out of the room without complaint but not before giving a courteous bow to Hideki. Hideki sits down opposite of Tsuki and takes a sip of the sake before him. And immediatly after another one, for good measure. Sayo did always serve the good stuff, hot damn.
"Please, Tsuki, just call me Hideki. We've known eachother long enough.""As you wish, sensei. But, we thought you were dead. How did you manage to survive all that time?"The bonds between teacher and student are strong indeed, and Hideki knows Tsuki would never betray him. There are but a scant few people on this world he truly trusts, and she is one of them. So he tells her the story of his misfortune over copious amounts of sake and salted beans, beginning with the assassins on the bridge, the attackers on the mountain and the road to Nara. He leaves out most of the details of the cave for now.
"Amazing. I should never have doubted your skills, sensei. But what will you do now, and why come to me? I don't know where any of your old contacts went, after leaving your tutelage those years ago. I can tell you that old man Genji is currently at the palace. The old geezer was summoned by the Courtesan of Death herself, which can't be good."Indeed it can't. Old man Genji is an old and dear friend of Hideki and is a wonderful chef, which is his day job. The man is also ever so slightly unhinged and one of the most skilled alchemists Nippon has ever known. Hideki hopes his daimyo has hired him to cook for banquet, because the alternative would mean that trouble is afoot. Still, it means he has someone inside the palace that he trusts, which means that getting in contact with the Scorpion clan higher-ups should be a lot easier now.
What will Hideki do now?Jeez, this turned out a lot longer than I had thought. Hope ya'll like it. I took some liberties with what Hideki said to keep things rolling along. Tsuki can be trusted, I'm not trying to trick you or anything with this one. Old man Genji, as stated, is also a trusted friend, insofar an unhinged alchemist can be trusted. Porbably best not to drink his eternal life elixir though, it might have quicksilver in it, among other stuff.
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Topic: Nippon: Quest for Vengeance (SG/CYOA): Turn 41: Star fort Goryokaku (Read 14869 times)