The Mōri Tournament: Day 3

Sporting Event / Competition

Dawn rose on the third day of the Mōri Aspirant Tournament, with the matches beginning at their characteristically punctual break of dawn. Mostly familiar faces dotted the crowd, with some missing and a few newcomers present. Of particular interest was a sour-faced, dour woman in reddish robes sharing the box right beside Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki who hadn't been there on days previous.   A fair number of other events occurred simultaneously with the matches, but for details on each battle that took place, see: Mōri Matches: Day 3

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As the first battle began, Ryūzaki Sanosuke found his attention distracted by the harried approach of Ryūzōji Matashichirō. The nekomata's face showed concern as she wormed her way through the press of bodies that surrounded the Silver General in his section of the box. After many trials, she managed to reach his side and asked if he'd seen Ryūzōji Takanobu that day. Sanosuke admitted that he hadn't. The worried look on Matashichirō's face painted a subtle picture of what must have happened as she pressed a folded piece of parchment into his hand. Indeed, the note read: "Gone to get stronger. Don't worry. Don't look for me."   While the script was far too fine to be Takanobu's handwriting, the wording was without a doubt. Sanosuke expressed his frustrations; this must be because she'd been pulled at the last minute from the Ryūzōji/Silver Meteor Storm clan match the previous day. Matashichirō took that moment to explain why she didn't think it to be a full-blown emergency yet. Takanobu may be small and immature, but she was a fighter powerful enough that traveling alone posed little danger. Sanosuke agreed, and suggested that they should respect her wishes for now. He did take a moment to put some clandestine works in motion, just in case. Matashichirō assented, though she still appeared restless, and the two settled in to watch the morning's matches together.

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After a few matches had passed, significantly including Fubuki's own, the cold-eyed "oni" found herself* approached by an armed and armored guard of the Mōri Clan. Aiō Mototsuna desired to speak with her* and she* should follow him without delay, the guard intoned ominously. Fubuki assented, following the samurai for a short jaunt across the northern stands.   Aiō Mototsuna stood there in the Mōri box, looking down as Fubuki approached. His eyes did not appear angry or suspicious above his mask. Instead, they were alight with hopeful curiosity. The reason for his summons soon became clear. It was Kintoki's Hatchet, which Fubuki had used without subtlety in her* match against Mōri Takamoto. Mototsuna wanted to know where she'd* gotten it and, most importantly, if Sakata no Kintoki still lived.   Fubuki admitted that, to her* knowledge, Kintoki still lived in the lands of the Hashinara. The weapon here in the arena was a copy, a perfect replica created by some strange twist of time and fate. Indeed, she* would not have brought it if not certain that Kintoki would not follow. Mototsuna proved receptive to Fubuki's explanation. While disappointed that the Golden Child still lived, he accepted knowledge of her whereabouts as more than enough reward for his questions. With a word of appreciation, the two bowed and Fubuki returned to her* seat.

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Meanwhile, Ryūzaki Sanosuke had noticed something curious. Kitsuno, a flamboyant oni of uncommon tastes who had recently rejoined The Wolfpack as Maxim's adviser, had just crossed the width of the stands to speak with Mōri Motonari. The two now conversed in hushed tones. Being not as keen of ear, Sanosuke relied on his trusted retainer Motoyama Tsugutoshi to eavesdrop for him.    Tsugutoshi's report turned out to be vague. There was something about "The Wolfpack" and "Knight Commander Maxim." The conclusion she drew from the overheard conversation was that Lord Maxim, who had entered the tournament under the alias of "Swordsman," no longer wished to remain anonymous.   In an attempt to follow-up on this information, Sanosuke reached out to Kitsuno within the mental network. Indeed, the peach-garbed oni did seem to have been inducted at some point, and replied without delay. Kitsuno admitted that the business with Motonari had been regarding some Wolfpack business, but wouldn't elaborate further without Maxim's express approval. Sanosuke took this to mean that the topic must have been regarding secret business. He thanked Kitsuno and left it at that.

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When the final round had ended and the corpses cleared from the field, things finally began to settle down. This marked the closing of morning matches, and custom was to break for lunch before returning to the arena for clan matches at the sun's zenith in the sky at noon. Indeed, with fewer matches, it hadn't taken the whole morning to complete the individual bracket, and was still rather early for lunch. This didn't stop Kita Narikatsu, who scurried around the arena to invite each member of the Hashinara Clan to lunch with his sister, Mōri Motonari.   Narikatsu began with Ryūzaki Sanosuke, who took it as an individual honor and accepted. This proved to be a wise starting point, as the Silver General adopted a sullen expression when he realized that the rest of the Five Cardinal Generals, and not just him alone, had been invited to attend. Then, Narikatsu moved to Hashinara Yoshitakatomo, Aotsuki Tsukamoto, and Maxim.   Face-to-navel with the hulking foreigner, neither Narikatsu nor Maxim seemed thrilled at a repeat of their former meeting. A few rude words were exchanged, and the diminutive oni took it upon himself to retract his sister's invitation. As he sped off, however, Urashima Tarō caught the little whippersnapper by the collar and shook him around until he apologized. Maxim received a proper invite and a grudging sorry before Narikatsu was off.   His next target was Fubuki, still in the basin of the arena, but first he stopped off by Yagyū Munetoshi and complimented her cat. The other, similarly-statured oni took this compliment in stride, but Narikatsu made a show of dropping something out of his pocket for her to find before running off. Munetoshi picked it up, granting Mori Hibiki a rare chance to escape her vise-like grip. He hopped onto her head and, after ensuring that the cat wasn't going anywhere, Munetoshi relented and the two read the note together. From his own place not far away in the stands, Maxim was able to spot that it seemed to be some kind of haiku, Eastern poetry, but he couldn't make out the details.   When he reached Fubuki, Narikatsu implied that Motonari had invited someone that she* might know, but seemed to deliberately dance around the cold-eyed oni herself*. That seemed just fine with Fubuki, who sent the young man on his way.   It was still early, but Mōri Motonari still looked wan and hungry. Perhaps she was quite eager to eat. Whatever the reason, the heroes of the Hashinara were all due at the Yakisoba Yashiki in Shimonoseki proper without delay.