Amiko Kobayashi (hotlittlehands) wrote,
@ 2011-12-13 17:37:00

AU: A Real Lady
Many called Clan Yashida's holdings a corporate empire with multiple security contracts with the Japanese government. Others called it the closest contemporary Japan could get to a shogunate. Everyone, however, knew about the young daimyo's... fixations. Living fairly austerely for one so wealthy, Amiko Kobayashi used her financial savvy to direct all clan resources to two things. The first was the protection and well being of people throughout the clan. The second was the devastation of every Hand operation they could track down.

Some months ago, she had interfered in an incident in the middle of the street out of concern for the safety of the arresting officers.

It had proven quite lucky, although at times she felt like a dirty old woman for enjoying the view.
Tonight, Amiko asked Hajime to see her in her office.

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get_medieval
2011-12-13 10:24 pm UTC (link)

Hajime has been ever dutiful. First and foremost, he is samurai, in the oldest school sense of the word. If his daimyo wishes him to hunt down the Hand, then he has been only too happy to oblige, challenging their best over and over again, and hunting relentlessly.

The incident in the street had been a real test of his skills. He hadn't known there would be so many. But as always, when it was his success, or his daimyo's life, he had succeeded.

He shows up, a little stiff due to the bandages, but formal as ever, bowing deeply in response to the summons.

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	hotlittlehands 2011-12-13 10:31 pm UTC (link)
	Amiko acknowledges it. "Good evening. I hope you are healing well. Please sit." Also sitting, she looks at him intently for a moment. "I have been trying, of late, to think of how to thank you properly." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-13 11:23 pm UTC (link)
	He moves to sit, still having to get used to these modern offices and chairs instead of mats. It just feels wrong, sitting at the same level as his daimyo. "To live is to serve. You do not need to thank me. It was my pleasure." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

hotlittlehands
2011-12-13 11:45 pm UTC (link)

A thin smile. "Of course. Then let us simply agree that you are fulfilling your responsibilities and I am trying to fulfill mine. I've had our contacts at various historical archives looking as much as possible into certain undocumented artifacts linked to certain families. One of the sketches they provided matched photographs from one of our surveillance operations."

She lays out both picture in question: a drawing of an amulet, and a photograph of a stern man in a white lab coat wearing an amulet that appeared quite similar to the drawing. "As far as we can ascertain, this little trinket probably belonged to your previous lord."

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	get_medieval 2011-12-14 02:00 am UTC (link)
	He studies the picture, then nods firmly. "Either that was his amulet, or that is a copy based off of it. What else do we know of this person?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 02:17 am UTC (link)
	"Oh Sosuke seems the most commonly used alias. He's a physicist and engineer who's been doing weapons work for some of the Hand's less traditional offshoots." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 02:28 am UTC (link)
	"Associated with the Hand... good. Then we have been weakening the correct villain all along. Now I must determine how to get to this person. Judging by the photo... you know something of where he may be?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 02:42 am UTC (link)
	A thin smile. "I would say that one can never go wrong attacking the Hand, my friend, but there are perhaps other, less biased, interpretations. His most likely current location is at a compound in Northern Kyushu. The maps and security information are all here," she takes out another file. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 04:23 am UTC (link)
	"In time, they will be rooted out and destroyed." he replies. "And I will take all of this into account... but will not abandon my current duties, of course." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 04:31 am UTC (link)
	"Of course you won't. But know that they're capable of being rearranged when you need it, and you'll have plenty of resources at your disposal when you feel the time is right." She looks at him intently. "If this is what it looks like, then I know how important it is, believe me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 04:37 am UTC (link)
	He nods. "I would suggest that the resources be allocated soon... not... out of selfish intent, but because this would suggest the Hand has some amount of time travel capabilities. I would suggest we need to know to what degree as soon as possible." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 04:42 am UTC (link)
	She nods. "I have some people coming together ready to go tomorrow afternoon. Is there anything you need taken care of tonight?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 04:44 am UTC (link)
	He nods. "I should spend at least a couple of hours in prayer... let my father know that he may be able to rest soon. Is there anything you wish of me in the meanwhile?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 04:48 am UTC (link)
	There's a very brief pause before she shakes her head. "No. That will be all." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 10:03 am UTC (link)
	He notes the pause. "Amiko-sama... if there is something I can help with, please do not hesitate to say so. This news does not change my duty or commitment to you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 12:02 pm UTC (link)
	A thin smile. "I know." And I adore you for it. "But we are dealing with important matters, and a passing fancy for conversation is not among those." 'I'm lonely' was not a legitimate request. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 02:06 pm UTC (link)
	He considers that. "In the midst of important matters is the most important time to find balance. Check your reports, let me pray... and then perhaps you will join me for tea?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 02:26 pm UTC (link)
	"...A very good point, thank you. And I would like that." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 02:30 pm UTC (link)
	He smiles just slightly, then bows. "I will see you there, then. I will have tea prepared properly... it would be a good omen." he adds, waiting for official dismissal before leaving. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 02:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Thank you, Hajime-san. You may go." And Amiko will get back to work for a while. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2011-12-14 02:42 pm UTC (link)

He disappears for the two hours promised, kneeling, totally still before the small shrine he's built.
After the time is up, feeling somewhat more at peace, he heads into the main break room, where he figures she'd usually expect tea... and rearranges it, dropping the legs of the folding table to provide a surface near the floor, and bringing in mats. Then he sets about laying out the ingredients for tea. He has a set... it doesn't see a lot of use, since there's no one trained to prepare it for him, but he appreciates the chance to do this properly, even if he's not as good at the ceremony as he might like. The water is boiling, the matcha powders set out, along with the stirring whisk.
He's as quick and efficient about it as he can be, trying to have everything laid out by the time she arrives.

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	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 02:51 pm UTC (link)
	And she comes in to find everything so ... fairly properly done. "I must admit," she says, smiling, ready to take her place on one of the mats. "I have never been as good at it as I wanted to be." She knew she had her strengths, but she was never going to be her Lady-Mother. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 03:06 pm UTC (link)
	He smiles, quirking a brow. "I was taught, but not very well. I was not aware you knew the ceremony. Would you do me the honor of serving, then?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2011-12-14 03:17 pm UTC (link)
	"I learned as a child, but never improved." Yukio had certainly had no time for such things, and combat training, higher education, and her own private war had gotten in the way. "It would be my pleasure." And she does her best to do so with adequate propriety. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2011-12-14 04:15 pm UTC (link)
	Regardless of the errors, he makes no attempt to correct her. That would be rude, and as odd as it is to have his daimyo in that role, its a pleasure being served tea again. He conducts his portions of the ritual, if not perfectly, at least rather well, having had more training, long ago, on being on the side of the ceremony of receiving. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)