He looks over to Hida Sachiko and smiles a bit at the compliment, odd sounding as it may be. Nodding in acceptance, he motions to a spot next to him for her to seat herself. Although Koyoja didn't have the inclination to humor this samurai-ko's advances, he certainly didn't wish to outright refuse them in such a public place. Besides, it was obvious she was intoxicated. And a Crab. Who knows how she would.... respond.

"Oh, I am nothing more than a simple monk, Hida-san. There are far fairer than me within court this season."

"Yer still pretty cute for a monk. Is it true that you monks aren't allowed to be close to people."

His heart instantly lurches a bit, and the pain within his back came back thricefold, forcing him to wince slightly, and he shook his head at the samurai-ko.

"It is true that in order to remain spiritually pure, we must obstain from certain activites, yes."

"It's a shame you have to be so virtueous, do you ever regret your purity."

_____________________

"No I've never seen them together." Shiko admitted. She gulped down another cup of saki. Her speech was starting to slur.

ooc: Krylo, you and thaum may want to team up.

Koyoja smiles and shakes his head softly.

"I cannot see you giving up your duty on the wall, or serving your Daimyo, for a single night of entertainment. Sacrifices must be made for duties sake, and for ones destiny. However, that does not mean we cannot converse and enjoy ones company."

"Who's ambandoning wall duty." she says in a startled voice. "They'll face my hammer. I can't stand cowardice."

This outburst draws the attention of some of the crab bushi.

"Sachiko's found her first victim." Is the common joke and several of the groups erupt in raucous laughter.

"I am simply using that as an example of the type of thing I would be losing were I to give in to such... temptation. Training ones entire life to serve a purpose, only to lose it for a single night's pleasure? Besides... I saw some Lions gazing at you quite... hungrily. I would not wish to earn their ire for stealing your attentions all night. I am no warrior, I am a man of peace."

"Hmmm" she said looking at the lions. One of the Matsu met her gaze and she stalked towards him hungrilly.

Breathing a silent prayer of relief, Koyoja turned his attention back towards the dancers ground, and to Hiruma Kage's retinue, beside him. Partially wishing Kage wasn't too far gone, with his marriage in only a few hours.

"I hope that doesn't come back to haunt me..."

Once the young unicorn had departed, Zatoichi glanced around the room once more and noticed the Kuni Shugenja was, this time, talking to a girl who appeared to be getting somewhat drunk. He shook his head a bit, noting that this was the second time he'd seen the man talking to a source that was most likely quite disreputable, and decided to take it upon himself, this time, to remind him not to act too harshly upon anything heard so far.

Following up on likely leads would, of course, be acceptable, but treating the words of the women he had thus far been engaged with as truth would be foolhardy and dangerous to the mission they both shared. Zatoichi didn't want to risk it and so he made his way to the table where he sat with Shiko.