Sapphire Ambassadors

His tools had been confiscated. Two kitchens he didn't actually use for his own projects had been shut down.

The Crane had shown their hand in a hilarious and cumbersome fashion.

No wonder the Lion conquered Naishou out from under them. No wonder the imbeciles actually wanted it back badly enough to cut a deal. They're a pack of cretins.

He had known more or less from the moment he received his invitation that he wasn't going to win. He figured the Clan might have sent him as some sort of thumb in the eye to the Crane.

But he had tried, Fortunes fuck all of them.

He had tried.

So pardon me to Jigoku and back for making a point about Courtesy in a hall that had seen gaijin beverages openly promoted and bare-assed artwork of a fellow competitor submitted with nary a whimper.

The timing was... amusing, to say the least.

They couldn't even get properly offended promptly.

Whistling to himself, he moved among the stalls, selecting various implements and ingredients. He would miss the use of Obachan's implements, of course, but only so much.

Tools do not make a chef. As these idiots will see.

She'd asked a few others about the location of Bayushi Choudai this morning. They'd spotted the Scorpion bushi heading toward the market so she headed there too.

Fortunately, Scorpion red was an easy colour to spot in a crowd.

Yoshino was completely unaware of the unfortunate events that had befallen Choudai (with the exception of one artist targeting him with offensive paintings). She therefore walked over to him and bowed in a friendly, respectful way. Of course she still kept a little more distance than decorum demanded. He was still a Scorpion.

"Good morning Bayushi-sama. Have you had rice today?"

"Not yet, Doji-san, and I gather that not many have had as much as they might have wished today."

He bowed politely.

"But I hope to rectify that soon. And you?"

"It was only miso as I only felt like a light meal, but it was enjoyable." Yoshino comments with a hint of mischief as she departed from the usual, standard responses.

"May I have a few minutes of your time? I have some good news to share regarding the... the thing that troubled me before."

His eyebrows went up behind his mask.

"Indeed? Do share, Doji-san..."

He chuckled ruefully.

"My own efforts there were less than optimal."

Possibly the most complete disaster I've presided over since the war.

"I spoke to the local officials yesterday morning and they are calling in support to resolve this. Also, last night I slept without any problems. I'm feeling a little relieved and refreshed today as a result."

Indeed, it was probably the least miserable or anxious he'd seen her. It still wasn't quite what you'd call cheery, but a close second for Yoshino.

"I'm glad to hear it, Doji-san..."

He paused.

"Any further word on the, er, nature of the disturbance?"

"Likely a gaki, or so I'm told. I don't know much about hungry ghosts though." She answers honestly.

"Eesh."

He shook his head.

"Hopefully this... consultant can resolve the matter."

Taking a deep breath, Yoshino claps her hands together twice. A prayer.

"I hope so. I wanted to also let you know I've complained about the art depicting you and Doji Nadeshiko-san. It's not acceptable."

He quirked an eyebrow at that.

"Your concern in the matter is appreciated, Doji-san. In truth, knowing what I do now, I'm relieved that my portrayals have not been... worse. But I did find it odd that Doji Nadeshiko-san was subjected to these things for so long without a murmur of protest. But I didn't want to intrude on what might have been an internal matter for the Crane."

"Apparently they hadn't done anything as nobody had formally complained. The organiser said there would be words today since somebody had now complained. Perhaps a formality and my Clan not wanting to seem biased?" She tried to justify it with what little she knew and could infer.

"Hm. Makes me wonder who formally complained about my work, then..."

He shrugged.

"Either someone less polite than I am, perish the thought, or someone who'd rather complain to the Crane than talk to me about it. Curious."

The Doji's brow furrowed. "Someone complained about your work...?" Once more Yoshino wasn't privy to the latest gossip.

"I would assume so, given that a few local guardsmen came to search my room and person to collect all of my cookware, and that two kitchens in establishments I'm known to be fond of are closed for 'ritual purification' today."

He gestured to the things he was buying.

"Hence, today's improvisation."

For a moment she isn't she she understands. She asks to clarify precisely. "They just took all of your cookware? Without saying when it would be returned?"

"They said it would be returned when it had been ritually purified. Very polite. Gave me an itemized list of everything."

He shrugged.

"So today, I will make do with what's available. And tomorrow, if I must."

Well, that didn't sound too unreasonable. Had someone tried to poison his food and the Crane were worried about the items being dangerous?

Wait, maybe they thought Choudai was mixing poisons?

Yoshino wished for a fan as she wiped her face with her sleeve. "I hope it's resolved without drama. H-have you considered submitting a non-culinary display Bayushi-san?"

He blinked.

"Doji-san, to do so would be to forsake a chance to prove the worth of my grandmother's favored art to the wider Empire. It would be an admission of defeat for the only reason I am here. It would mean forsaking my greatest artistic passion. And besides."

He turned his attention to his stand-in rice pot.

"What else would I present?"

"Art comes in many forms. That aside Bayushi-san, I meant no disrespect." Yoshino looked a little doubtful however. She articulated the why a moment later. "Do you believe you haven't already shown its worth here?"