[EN0] - Midnight Strolls - The Garden Park

[Togashi Shinko]

Those that chased after the scream find a crowd. A young woman of the merchant class covering her mouth as she continues to shriek. Just off the path, what caused her scream becomes very apparent.

A ronin, dead. But not by the blade, and no external wounds. His pallor is pale, and if one looks closely, his eyes are tinged heavily. He appeared to have slumped over from a sitting position.

There's a long pipe on the ground near him.

Shinko can't help but to sate her curiosity at the sound of the scream, running over. The sight of the dead body doesn't seem to bother her all that much and she leans down to observe it. She reaches out, as if it touch it and then stops self-consciously.

"No bleeding. But he's visibility dressing to show he's not part of a Clan" The words are spoken matter of fact. Shinko's eyes fall on the pipe that has fallen, and pulls it up to examine, taking a distant sniff.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai notes the Dragon child's actions with interest before resuming a scan of the crowd for furtive movement.

If there was an attacker, they might well be present among the throng.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

As the Dragon leans in, either due to competitiveness or something else, Mitsuko finally drops to her knees near the body and looks closer, though still not touching the body.

"No bleeding. But he's visibility dressing to show he's not part of a Clan" The words are spoken matter of fact. Shinko's eyes fall on the pipe that has fallen, and pulls it up to examine, taking a distant sniff.

"Dragon-san!" The Kuni blurts out, knocking the pipe from Shinko's hand as fast as she can when she sees the Togashi start to sniff. "If there's no visible wound, it could be something he inhaled!" She glares at the Dragon but internally curses herself for not having acted sooner.

"What did it smell like? Do you feel different in any way?" The Kuni begins to mentally search her Medicine training for possible symptoms in the Togashi, investigation of the already dead person temporarily forgotten.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai reflexively takes up a position to be able to guard the Kuni and the Dragon. His eyes seem to burn as he surveys the crowd, and his fists begin to clench in readiness.

Seppun gonna Seppun.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

For her part, Kasumi cocked her head to the side.

Looked to her like the end of the road most pipes led to.

"This the usual spot to smoke yourself into oblivion?"

She wasn't asking anyone in particular, but she still looked about to see if anyone had an answer.

"Most trash-smokers I've heard of tend to like a bit of privacy."

[Asahina Tenshin]

"Make way, make way!" A hurried voice carried over the clamor of onlookers. A boulder of a man, the Daidoji mon on his kimono prominent, pushed aside through onlookers.

Yet it wasn't he who spoke. The hat of power of Asahina Tenshin broke through the crowd. "Do not touch anything!" He commanded, his fan flicked free from his robe, while crouching near the body. His lips curled to a frown, as he tsked at the sight.

"Another one. This is beginning to be a problem." He chided himself, then looking about at the gathering of peasants, some samurai and...

"Topaz Candidates." He softly spoke to himself.

"I must apologize that you've seen this blight upon our fair Tsuma." His voice raised, as he used his fan to dismiss the crowd, though his attention was kept on the potentials.

[Shiba Jiro]

Jiro kept his focus on the merchant woman, more concerned with her well being than a man that he could do nothing for.

The words of the Asahina were met with a bow, but he avoided looking at the dead body focusing instead on others.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi wasn't sure how a dead ronin junkie was the Asahina's fault, but she kept her mouth shut.

[Kitsu Masaru]

Despite his bright hair and eyes the Kitsu boy had largely gone unnoticed up until this point. Not a tremendous feat with all the commotion and perhaps his presence would remain in the background.

But there he stood towards the edge of all that had happened watching with an expression of soft concern and shock. The kind of expression that suggested this sort of thing was not something he was used to seeing.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Make way, make way!" A hurried voice carried over the clamor of onlookers. A boulder of a man, the Daidoji mon on his kimono prominent, pushed aside through onlookers.

Yet it wasn't he who spoke. The hat of power of Asahina Tenshin broke through the crowd. "Do not touch anything!" He commanded, his fan flicked free from his robe, while crouching near the body. His lips curled to a frown, as he tsked at the sight.

"Another one. This is beginning to be a problem." He chided himself, then looking about at the gathering of peasants, some samurai and...

"Topaz Candidates." He softly spoke to himself.

"I must apologize that you've seen this blight upon our fair Tsuma." His voice raised, as he used his fan to dismiss the crowd, though his attention was kept on the potentials.

The Crab girl isn't so proud she won't quickly clear a magistrate's path, but she does catch Togashi Shinko's shoulder and give her a look of I'm still worried about you. With the Dragon looking steady on her feet, Mitsuko turns back to Asahina Tenshin.

"Honourable Magistrate-sama," the young Crab says with thoughtful bearing, bowing deeply. "This one is Kuni Mitsuko, daughter of Kuni Etsumiko and Kuni Adorai. If my curiosity can be forgiven, what is the cause of death? This is 'another one' of what?"

Her questions put forth, the Kuni bows deeply again, hoping deeply that she's not attracting the wrong attention.

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko bows and steps away.

"I am also curious, honorable magistrate-sama"

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai bows deeply, saying "Kakita-bugyo, may this one be of any assistance?"

[Asahina Tenshin]

The man sighed, shaking his head. The burly Daidoji that seemed to be his shadow busied himself with ushering away the crowd. The woman who had shrieked, the Daidoji softened his approach, treating her with upmost compassion, ensuring she would be undisturbed as he helped disperse the crowd.

"A string of such deaths has been besieging the city. Mostly some jisamurai and peasants, but it is becoming more problematic. More and more... opium." Tenshin then looked to the fallen ronin. "Who knows what demon plagued this man, or the others that have befallen such a fate. But it seems that..." another despondent sigh.

"Somehow the drug is flooding the streets. We check every shipment that comes in, from the harbor and the gates, and still... we have yet to find the source."

At the question from the candidates, he looked to them.

"You all have much on your plate this week. But..." he brought his folded fan up to his chin, tapping thoughtfully.

"Perhaps as newcomers... maybe you will see something we have missed."

[Shiba Jiro]

Jiro was replaced by the Daidoji in helping the woman, so he looked to the magistrate.

"Or perhaps as visitors and outsiders, some might be able to attempt to acquire it under your supervision?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Note to self: Do NOT volunteer until you know what's what.

Still. Opium's trash, and besides, last thing we need is a shadier rep... and having the Crane owe us couldn't be a bad thing.

"Aye, I could help look into it."

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko looks around, doing a double take. Was that the Phoenix from earlier?

"I will certainly keep my eyes open Magistrate-sama."

Shinko was far from a detective...But she knew of someone who was. The question was whether he had actually arrived.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

Koaru remained distant and quiet. Her brain however was overheating.

Tsuma. Would be but a minor fishing village if not for the fact it is home to the Kakita Dueling Academy. Supposed to be quiet and peaceful but for the duration of the Topaz Championship, these few weeks where the outside world suddenly gathers here.

And apparently also a nerve center of the opium traffic, with enough cheap merchandise running through the streets to decimate its lowly population, to the point the local authorities aren't even trying to hide it anymore.

Data not matching. Missing critical pieces of information. Deductive or inductive reasoning impossible at the moment. Complementary data needed before involving oneself further.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai considers the magistrate's words, sorting them in his own nascent guardsman's mind.

Many of the thoughts are...unsettling.

"Vigilance will be maintained, of course, Asahina-bugyo."

[Asahina Tenshin]

The Asahina pondered again, beginning to pace in place, "I cannot officially charge you into my service, as you have not yet passed your gempukku. And your priority should be the focus on the championship. But if you are able to uncover something, this one would be most grateful." He bowed to the candidates, as his yojimbo waved over at incoming heimin workers, who quickly work to cover the body, and get it away from the scene.

"And perhaps it would give guidance as to what your duties should be after the championship. Even being a competitor, it already shows a great trust your Lords have in you all."

[Shiba Jiro]

"I am no great investigator, but I can certainly keep my eyes open," he says with a nod.