A meeting of lords, the fated time

[Sakurai Shiba]

"Not in this room," he said, "I will be back shortly," he said, moving to the door, "I may as well bring Go as well, if you wouldn't mind."

[Gin, Rai, and Hime]

"I do not at all." He nodded and bowed.

[Sakurai Shiba]

He bowed as well and left the room. He would return in a few minutes with both boards, closing the door behind, "Tea? Sake?" he asked, setting the boards down.

[Gin, Rai, and Hime]

"Tea would be fine. I prefer to only drink sake at festivals and ceremonies." He chuckled, sitting down gently.

[Sakurai Shiba]

"I will fetch some tea in a moment," he said, "Anything more that you would like?"

[Gin, Rai, and Hime]

"No, the tea is plenty, thank you." He grinned, giving another slight bow.

[Sakurai Shiba]

He nodded and left, coming back in a few minutes with some fresh tea. He set a cup down at his guest's side while he set his down and the pot as well, bringing out the Shogi board.

[Gin, Rai, and Hime]

Kakusa bowed once more, picking up the cup and taking a sip. "Fine tea. If only Hikami knew how to make tea like this. Ah, but that's naught but a pleasant dream." He laughed, as he watched Sakurai set up the Shogi board. He could tell from the simplest movements that Sakurai wasn't at his best, so he decided to throw out a little secret. 'You know, I know of a method to allow you to heal much more quickly. Possibly even into better condition then you were in before."

[Sakurai Shiba]

"What would that be?" he asked as he finished setting it up and sat back, "It might be very nice to know, even with the Gedoushu defeated."

[Gin, Rai, and Hime]

Kakusa chuckled lightly, his eyes showing a silvery shine, as his words rolled like a gentle river. "An herb, an ancient secret of Yaso. It produces a powerful toxin, but like the venom of a serpent is used to cure it's bite, so does this toxin make an incredibly potent medicine. But there's a hitch. It's three days' journey to get to it, and there's a guardian. My team couldn't handle it alone, since we haven't yet mastered the secret arts, so I couldn't acquire it beforehand, as I had planned." He said calmly, revealing a bandaged wound on his left arm.

[Sakurai Shiba]

"It almost doesn't seem the trouble, if it could kill you to heal a wound," he said.

[Gin, Rai, and Hime]

"Ah, but here's the thing. You see, I was, in fact, withholding a bit of important information. You see, the herb isn't the reason for the guardian. Rather, the herb is useless to anyone outside of Yaso, because it takes a specific process to purify it. The real reason for the guardian is an ancient tool, created by my ancestors, to train, enhance, and amplify the Zan Mojikara. We need the assistance of your clan in order to claim this tool." He paused, a grim look on his face. "Because... My partner, my Ookami Origami, has been tense lately. Apprehensive. I don't think our duty is quite done."

[Sakurai Shiba]

"When I'm healed enough I will see to it that I join you," he told Kakusa, "This is something worth looking into."

[Gin, Rai, and Hime]

"Luckily," He paused, pulling a small vial out of his sleeve. "The Gedoushu didn't see fit to destroy the warehouses in Yaso. There was just enough herb to make a small bit. I offer it to you, Sakurai of the Shiba clan, as a seal of returned alliance between our families. Would you do me the honor of accepting my humble gift?"

[Sakurai Shiba]

"I would be happy to accept it, but I feel there may be more need for it elsewhere than me," he said, "Even if I am technically a Lord, I don't need something like that when it could be put to better use on someone else."