"He's in the basement, with Kuni Taira , doing they're usual entertainment, I doubt your pretty friend would enjoy their entertainments. Taira got a fresh shipment today, overly large smelly ones. I had to leave, lest I rudely release my breakfast on Shigeru's notes."

Sagaki didn't have to feign the look of confusion on his face. At first, fresh from Shiko's accusations, he thought that the other Kuni meant something sexual, but the mention of a "fresh shipment" suggested some sort of product - did he mean drugs?

"I'm afraid that I don't understand - what do you mean?"

"You don't know of Taira's hobbies?"

Sagaki shook his head. "I'm afraid not... What are they?" He chuckled. "It must be something pretty bad for you to almost lose your breakfast over it!"

"He's working on book of troll biology."

Sagaki blinked. That wasn't what he had been expecting.

"Um... Well, I can certainly understand your reaction, then... Thank you, my friend"

Bidding the Kuni goodbye, Sagaki made his way back to Zatoichi and Shiko, picking up a bottle of saki on the way. Putting it down on the table, he whispered to Zatoichi that he knew where Shigeru was, and was going to talk with him. He bade the pair goodbye, and moved off through the crowd, leaving the room and heading down to the basement to find Shigeru and Taira.

Eyes trailed the Kuni shugenja leaving the dancing hall, following them back to Zatoichi with Shiko, curious what they could have been talking about to make a Kuni leave with such a... purpose.

Koyoja turned back towards Hiruma Kage, and attempted to enjoy his company once more, now that Sachiko-san was enamored with some fool Matsu.

"Enjoying yourself, I hope, Hiruma-sama?"

The hida body gaurds bowed to the Henshin. "Sorry to say Hiruma-sama is a busy man and has many duties to attend to."

Zatoichi had nodded when Kuni Sagaki had told him he found where Shigeru was, but did not respond at first, instead pretending to be interested in the cat-like 'lady' he had been engaged in meaningless conversation with. Mostly involving her being spiteful toward someone or another.

He quickly disengaged himself as the shugenja made his way from the room, however.

"I apologize greatly, but I must take my leave, I have some buisness which I must take care of," Zatoichi said as he stood from the table and bowed slightly to Shiko. "I do hope that we can meet and speak again, but now I truly must be going," he lied before turning to leave not bothering to pay much attention to whatever reply she slurred out.

He caught up to Sagaki in the hallway. "I do think I'll come with. I doubt that woman truly knew anything herself. She merely had spiteful gossip, but Shigeru may be somewhat enlightening... if nothing else this is an excuse to escape the samurai who have drank a bit excessively."

The stone work in the castle get's more rough hewn the lower you go. The basement is dimly lit by flickering torches. A muffled and distant noise can be heard, as you get closer it sounds like a cross between the screams of a woman, and the howls of some great beast. Something squishes between your toes (ooc: they don't wear shoes inside) A foul smell assaults your nose as you reach a door. The noise is loudest here. Inside you can here two male voices talking calmly between the howls and screams.

Zatoichi's hand moved in front of his stomach, as if presenting a gift, as he heard the horrible screams coming from beyond the door. His eyes moved to the Kuni Shugenja, studying the man's face and trying to discern whether Sagaki knew about the events behind the door. "What are they doing in there?" he asked warily with his body still facing the doorway in an iajutsu stance, as if expecting it to burst open with oni pouring out of it.

Sagaki turned to Zatoichi, looking a little pale. "Apparently Shigeru-san is writing a book on troll biology - and it sounds like they're dissecting one alive in there. The one who told me of this said that they got a "fresh shipment today, overly large smelly ones". I don't think we need worry, though," He added, noting Zatoichi's concern, "this is apparently a regular thing for them, so I imagine that they have it under control, and we're hearing the troll's screams..."

Zatoichi's lip curled a bit in disgust, and he closed his eyes, trying to mentally steel himself against the sights he would be certain to see, before reaching out to the door. "Ready?"

Sagaki managed to control his stomach and his nerves, and replied to Zatoichi with a steadiness that surprised him. "Ready."

The heavy wood door slid open, no longer muffling the cry of pain. Two men stood over a frog like troll. One was poking a blackened heart in the opened trolls chest, Various impliments kept the troll alive with the gaping wound in it's chest.

"Now this main vein here is well protected by bone as you saw, but if you were to... A kuni wearing Kabuki style make up looked up at them. He bows respectfully. (bow back, you should always bow when you meet, and leave someone.) "Are you two lords interested also in my findings?"

Sagaki bowed in response, greeted the man, and moved forward, interested despite himself. "What are you examining? And what findings have you reached?"

ooc: new thread