Spirit (D5, EA, Expecting but open)

[Otomo Saisei]

Already knowing much about the Crane Estate configuration, Saisei moves around to find a specific person.

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma was waiting in his room, wondering why, out of many possible reasons, the Otomo wanted to speak to him.

Tea was ready.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Good day, Doji-san. I hope Inari-kami has given her blessings." He says with a bow as allowed to meet the shugenja.

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma bowed in turn:

"Good day Otomo-sama. It's always a pleasure. A cup of tea?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"Doji-san is too kind. I don't want to be a trouble to him and waste such a good tea with this one." He says, as protocol demands, at provides a nods. "Yet, please, do not allow me to stop Doji-san from partaking some."

[Doji Yuma]

If that was a no that means yes, Yuma was too preoccupied to take note of it and only served himself a cup.

"So... To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

[Otomo Saisei]

It was a courtesy no, of course. He wouldn't deny if the intention to partake tea was something Yuma really wanted –– yet, he wouldn't accept being a nuisance for tea, knowing he was about to ask for something else already.

He bows once again, getting direct into business, as suggested by the Doji, "Forgive this one's petulance, yet I have been commended to talk with a shugenja to solve a matter of the spirit, and Doji-san is the first one that came to mind."

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma did not even feign surprise:

"Hitomi? Little girl, long black hair, smell strongly of the sea?"

[Otomo Saisei]

Saisei narrows a bit his eyes, and chews no his lips, "I have never seen her before. Although I have seen through her, or so I believe. I have also been informed that it is important to find some toys so the curse can be broken. I would like to understand what I could be able to do to... well... try to see through her eyes again and find those figurines."

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma's grip on his teacup tightened slightly:

"Seen through her? What do you mean by that?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"I mean I had a vision, of sorts. In fact, two visions. One one a bug stung me. The other when I held my breath underwater at the pool which I felt someone pulling my leg the other-other-other day." He says, explaining further, "The first I was a small child in a ship. My parents were discussing. Arrows were fired into the ship. Father rescued me, but then I drowned. In the other, I was Hida Gusari-shiryo and I was in a Scorpion city bath with a lovely young maiden, who also happened to be a general. I feel that we were in love."

He coughs a bit, correcting, "I mean. That they were in love."

[Doji Yuma]

"That's strange to say the least. Would your bloodline be related to either Hida Gusari or Doji Bujeihime by any chance? I haven't been able to find the common denominator to those receptive to Hitomi's presence as opposed to those oblivious to her."

A sip.

"I have seen the ghost once myself. She showed herself to me during a talk between Hida Fuboshi and Daidoji Yushoko, and seemed to have the ability to awaken the darkest emotions of those she touched. Thankfully she retreated swiftly, but we could have had quite the diplomatic incident if she had pursued uninterrupted. I am left wondering what other nefarious abilities she may have.

Thinking of it, there was a weird bug that time too, but it didn't manage to sting anyone this time.

As for your tale..."

He dug into the by now far too big pile of notes and took out (a copy of) a sketch:

"This is a copy of some paintings available at the castle. Were these people in your visions?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"Hai!" He says, blinking a bit as the image is crystal clear in his head. "It is them."

Saisei scratches his arm a bit to ask, "Which kind of dark emotions she woke up?"

[Doji Yuma]

"She turned aggressive and started giving everyone at the table a piece of her mind. That wasn't pretty."

He taped the sketch:

"Those are portraits of Hida Gusari and Doji Bujeihime."

A sip.

"I wonder if your master knew. Nakodo often dig quite deep into the history of families they're working for."

[Otomo Saisei]

"What? Are you saying they," The Otomo mentions the pictures, "Are direct ancestors of the bride and groom?" He asks.

[Doji Yuma]

"Indeed. And supposedly the two samurai whose duel started this whole feud.

All of this is a bit confusing honestly. The story that Hitomi was the illegitimate daughter of a Crane and a Crab who drowned in a shipwreck near this shore seems to be solid as we have both Crab and Crane sources pointing to that."

He waved at the pile of papers.

"On who were the parents exactly, we have but suspicions, born from ghastly encounters, and your own visions seem to support them strongly."

A sip.

"Unless these visions are lies designed to sow confusion of course."

[Otomo Saisei]

He shakes his head, "It was them. I am sure. I saw it. Please, Doji-san, is there anything that might help me get these visions again, and control them. Can the kami help?"

[Doji Yuma]

"Delving at will in the spiritual world is quite the complex task. But there maybe is something we can try.

These objects you mentioned earlier... Apparently both Gusari and Bujeihime owned a figurine symbolizing the other and their bond. Little Kio, who put us all to shame with own good she is at everything while we struggle, has found one of them. Do you want to call her so she can show it to us? That might trigger something in you."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Definitely. I had the chance to meet Daidoji-san in other moments. A shining star." He says, nodding.

[Daidoji Kio]

Assuming she is summoned, she arrived sans makeup for her lunch date with he family. She said, "Ohaiyo, the servants said you wanted to see me?"

[Otomo Saisei]

The Otomo bows to Kio, "Good afternoon, Daidoji-san. I hope Inari-kami has provided her blessings. We won't disturb your activities for much long." Waving his hand toward the shugenja, he mentions, "Doji-san mentioned you have a soldier figurine with you. Is that so?"

[Daidoji Kio]

"I do, her name is Doji Hitomi or it was... but that's a band name so I she gets a new name, Doji Miwako now, and she is also a great swordsman like me," the child responded.

"She also hunts and beats up stupid ghosts."

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Saisei give ma Willpower check at TN 20.

[Otomo Saisei]

Something begins to boom in his head as Kio starts to talk, and he presses his temples for a moment.

--
D5, EA, Willpower TN 20: 4d10o10k4 31

[Dapper Dog]

Something begins to boom in his head as Kio starts to talk, and he presses his temples for a moment.

--
D5, EA, Willpower TN 20: 4d10o10k4 31

He felt a need to strangle the child... but he fights it back.