Interview with an Ikki

Gathering / Conference

It hadn't been easy, but Aotsuki Tsukamoto had come up with a way to deal with Toyotomi Hideyoshi. A way that they could both agree on. That is, dumping him somewhere far away. Hideyoshi wanted a fresh start, and Aotsuki wanted to be rid of him. It almost seemed to mirror how the young Daimyō's adviser, Abe no Seimei was to deal with her nemesis, Ashiya Dōman: shove him in the Dreamlands and forget about him.   That matter was resolved, but Aotsuki still had many more items on his plate despite the late hour. It had been an eventful day, and catching up with those events had proved challenging. Next, he'd like to speak to Saika Magoichi. The Silver Crow's team had succeeded in bringing in Hideyoshi, and so Seimei had given them time off. But this was important. Aotsuki bade that Magoichi, at least, be woken up for a short meeting.

A short time later, in one of Ōtsu Castle's second-floor meeting chambers, Aotsuki sat across from the woman he wanted to see. Magoichi still had some sleep around her eyes but, just as Seimei had predicted, she didn't complain. Rather, the young noble was politely waiting for Aotsuki to tell her why she'd been summoned.   In recognition of the late hour, he didn't waste any time in getting to the point. This had been bothering Aotsuki for some time, and he wanted to get the option out on the table now. Namely, he saw fit to offer a home in Mino Province to those families and friends of the Saika Ikki. There, he could provide stability, safety, and a reprieve from the dangerous unpredictability of the Ikkō Ikki.   Before her response, Magoichi took a deep, deliberate breath. Not the reaction Aotsuki had been hoping for. Calmly but firmly, the Silver Crow explained to her employer why that wouldn't work. The Saika Ikki were under his command only as a job. A necessity for the greater good. Aotsuki might be a good man, but the system he ruled over was exactly what the Ikkō Ikki were fighting against. She couldn't ask her family, nor those of her friends, to betray their ideals and become a part of the feudal machine once again.   To his credit, Aotsuki was not insulted by her refusal. It made sense, and he realized that he'd misunderstood the situation to begin with. Even so, he refused to abandon the idea entirely. There must be a way, somehow, that they could find a solution that would work for everyone. His passionate declaration seemed to stir something in Magoichi. Opposite him, she mulled the words over for a time, before responding with a question.   Had Aotsuki ever met Rennyō?   The Daimyō had to admit that he hadn't. He'd heard the name, always in connection with the Ikkō Ikki. Rennyō seemed to be some kind of leader amongst the disparate groups. Saika Magoichi thought that it would be a good idea for them to meet. Aotsuki might find that Rennyō's philosophy meshed with his own more easily than he expected. When the other voiced concerns of safety, Magoichi seemed surprised. Rennyō was a pacifist. He would not meet with anyone except under the guarantee of peace.   With this, Aotsuki agreed. His caution was understandable. He relayed some encounters he'd had with the Shirohebi Ikki and Ikkyū's odious group. Apparently, Magoichi shared his perspective. She could not see eye to eye with the Shirohebi, and thought Ikkyū as much of a villain as he did. It seemed that being fellow members of the Ikkō Ikki did not instill much loyalty to each other. They were united under Rennyō as an inspiration, rather than a leader.   This news heartened Aotsuki. If this was the case, then surely Ikkyū must be running out of friends. Unfortunately, Magoichi couldn't confirm that hope. There were plenty of opportunists in the Ikkō Ikki alongside the idealists. Many, then, who would offer such a man shelter.   A shame, but not a matter to be dealt with tonight. Aotsuki thanked Magoichi for her team's role in capturing Hideyoshi, then filled her in a bit on what would be happening to the scoundrel henceforth. As the moon wheeled lower in the sky, however, it didn't seem prudent to keep the meeting going any longer than that. Aotsuki gave Magoichi his blessing to take the next day off. If there were any other tasks requiring the Saika Ikki's hand, they would be back in his service the following morning.