Party: Hida Ganko, Doji Natsuki, Daidoji Jinsoku, Yoritomo Shohei, Togashi Amajino.
Ganko, after a hot night's pursuit of villains, finds himself in the unfolding melee near the Juniper Teahouse. He grinds a couple of firemen into a fine paste before coming face to face with a messenger from Shosuro Hyobu, who informs him that his cunning and wisdom will be needed to free her daughter from a kidnapper's hands. As the messenger also is searching for the rest of the party, Ganko follows him to the group, where the same message is delivered.
Happy to see pieces moving, the group bids farewell to uncle Ebi, leaving a good impression by getting a round of sake for all involved.
At Hyobu's palace, the party meets with both the Shosuro and the Soshi family leaders in the city, Seiryoku being irate about the Teahouse situation, as her Firemen were forced out by uncle Ebi.
Hyobu confides that Bayushi Korechika is the one who has taken her daughter hostage, under the pretense of 'protecting her from the current unrest'. He has written as much in an insulting letter that refers to the other family heads as 'little sisters'. She asks for the party to bring her back, offering a signed Order of Appearance for Bayushi Otodo (Korechika's son) due to the suspected involvement with the opium warehouse raids.
The party then heads out to confront Korechika. They first meet the guards and duly impress upon those the need for a face-to-face, which is granted.
The courteous host, Korechika tells the party that maybe the city has not been off as well under the leadership provided by the current governess and implies he would be a lot more able and may even allow the Crane clan to establish on Teardrop Island (through stating that the Emerald Magistrates are currently acting in the interest of their Emerald Champion - Doji Satsume - a crane).
After Natsuki asks leave to meet with Shosuro Kimi (and is granted the request), Korechika visibly relaxes and talks to the party about various things, including his suspicions that a ronin named 'Jaw' matches the description of the hitman who took out the merchant Watchful.
From the visit to Kimi, Natsuki learns that she is held against her will, but that she is not really eager to return home through violence either. If anything, Kimi seems to be disinterested in most outside news, though she does ask about her fiancé (Ide Asamitsu) and if her mother could make a deal to get her out.
Natsuki and Kimi agree that if Kimi feels like she is ever in real danger, she should request pineapples, as those exotic fruits are hard to come by, and word would reach either Ebi or Shohei before long.
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