LM11 Inquiring minds want to know

[Asahina Sakura]

Sakura had made an appointment to see her brother regarding what she'd seen at the banquet the other night.

So uh... she waited to see him?

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai--still Urusai at that point in the day--joins her, dressed well.

[Asahina Tenshin]

Tenshin was at his desk, a pot of tea already on. His left hand holding a brush, as he wrote down reports. His hat gently laid on his desk, while he hummed briefly to himself.

Rising as his sister and her likely soon to be betrothed, he bowed.

"Good morning, dear sister. Hello to you as well, Seppun Urusai-san. What have I done to earn such an auspicious visit today?" He beamed at them both, quite cheerfully.

[Asahina Sakura]

Sakura couldn't help but smile back in response to her brother's acknowledgement and also bowed!

"Ohayo, dear brother; unfortunately I wish we came on more of a social call but it's not the case? I saw something? at the banquet? that could be of some concern?"
She wanted to take Urusai's hand for reassurance but instead stuffed her hands into her sleeves and tried not to bounce on her toes with anxiety.

[Seppun Urusai]

"This one recommended coming to see Asahina-bugyo on the matter," Urusai says, bowing, "as taking it to the contingent of miharu could be somewhat problematic, although it would be a matter that would need their attention. Asahina-bugyo, being in the Imperial service, could perhaps offer more guidance, as needed.

"But given the accuracy with which the Magistrate's sister assessed other matters that seem similar, her attestation is likely to be trustworthy."

He's trying to be formal and polite, of course, for several reasons.

The voice in his mind has things to say about it. Many are not entirely kind.

[Asahina Tenshin]

Tenshin steadied himself, watching the pair closely. A hand brought to his chin as he pondered. "And what was it that you saw?" He raised an eyebrow, quizzicly. "Please, speak freely."

[Asahina Sakura]

"A figure." Sakura started simply, and her brother would know exactly what she meant: of the ghostly variety.
"Um. Standing possessively behind one of the Emperor's sons? Um. It was... concerning." She wrung her hands together inside her sleeves brought before her.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Which one?" asks Urusai. "It will...matter."

[Asahina Sakura]

She swallowed noticeably.
"The Heavenly Heir." She clarified.

[Asahina Tenshin]

Tenshin drew breath slowly. He knew, as every one else in the family knew, that Sakura had always seen beyond. But something like this...

"You are certain? Not a trick of the light? Nothing of the sort?" It wasn't said with any hint of doubting her, but of working through what it could mean, externally.

[Asahina Sakura]

She nodded certainly.
A bunch.
Completely serious.

[Asahina Tenshin]

She nodded certainly.
A bunch.
Completely serious.

Tenshin exhaled, looking between the two. Pondering the implications. "Certainly... troubling. But... to even say such a thing would be difficult. I'm... not sure who I could even go to with this knowledge." The magistrate pondered, beginning to pace.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Asahina-bugyo might know who is head of the Miharu contingent dispatched with His Majesty, long may He reign," Urusai suggests. "A briefing to that effect was not provided to a competing child, as would make sense, but local Magistracy would have access to that information."

[Asahina Sakura]

"I.. didn't have time to assess too deeply, if the spirit was truly malevolent or not, I'm uncertain, but it just... felt, like, something that should be reported. The fact that it didn't stay where I could sense it was cause for concern, at the very least. It seemed.. possessive of the Celestial Heir."
She nodded in agreement of Urusai's suggestion.