Kyuden Hida: Hours of Shadow
 

The Kuni went to work purifying the room, an empty saki barrel was brought in by a couple of eta. They loaded what was left of the bodies into the barrel and then put the cover back on and nailed it shut. Keiyomi's father watched them remove the bodies A group of Hida bushi escorted the bodies out of the castle to the village. The crab would secretly hold funeral rights for the girl. Her father brabbed Nadare's collar.

"Find who did this to my daughter, I want to be their executioner."

Standing in the doorway, Sagaki considered Kuni Taira, trying to decide on the best approach. After a little thought, he made up his mind and approached the man.

"Excuse me, Kuni Taira, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions... I was wondering, when did Yogo Shigeru arrive to help you with your experiments? And was he here all the time?"

"Hmmm I'd say Shigeru arrived several minutes before you and your friend did. He'd said he was enjoying certain entertainments"

Sagaki leaned forward a little, looking interested, but in a relaxed pose that didn't look too urgent. "Did he say what these entertainments were?"

"I'm sorry I'm rather busy with my notes, I don't have any more info for you. Besides I don't pry into the business of others."

Sagaki smiled. "Fair enough. I hope that you have success in your experiments, Kuni Taira."

Turning away, Sagaki considered. Well, he hadn't learned much, although it did seem that Shigeru was still unaccounted for prior to the time that he and Zatoichi had met him. With this in mind he headed back up the stairs, looking for the others.

Nadare dusted the Ide's hand off his kimono. Nobody, but nobody grabbed him by the neck, like a dog or prisoner.

But he understood the man's feelings. He'd had days like this before, and he hadn't stopped at simply pulling at a man's collar.

"Ide-sama, of course we will find the culprit. And unless Kisada-sama takes the honor of administering the Emperor's Mercy upon their unworthy skull first, we will be sure to let you exact justice on your daughter's murderer."

Even as he mentioned Kisada's name, Nadare's stomach turned. Kisada had asked - no, declared - that there be no problems during the investigation. If word got out about this, if the other Clans knew that they were not safe even in the vaunted Wall of the Crab, the loss of face would be incalculable. And Kisada would assuredly turn his wrath upon those responsible, which would be everyone below him, including the investigative party - especially the investigative party.

He sighed inwardly. Life was not going to be easy.

ooc: boy you ain't kidding

After leaving the accursed room, Koyoja made his way out into the hallway, gazing up and down the length of it. Trying to visualize the killer as they entered, and as they escaped. He found it hard to place the mon of the Isawa on the killer, but according to the witnesses... it was so. Than again, it could be a set-up. Others within the castle were certainly skilled in such machinations. He needed a personal reassurance.

He knelt down, and whispered a quiet riddle to the air spirits. The ones the Crab shungenja already spoke of being free, and able to help. He asked for their description of the one they saw. Once he got that... safely able to assume to be the same description the shugenja got, than he would ask the earth spirits to see how much the person weighed, to further narrow the suspects.

In truth... he was procrastinating because he failed to want to see Sachiko again. That bushi had made quite the impression, and she had only gotten worse, by his own estimation. But she needed to be interviewed, and her testimony taken.

"Is there a party I was unaware of?" A female voice said. you look to see it's Sachiko talking to a nearby Hida gaurd. Her eyes are bright and her pretty smile warm.