Aotsuki Tsukamoto and the Prisoner of Inabayama

Life, Milestone

Within the subterranean dungeons burrowed beneath Inabayama, young lord Aotsuki Tsukamoto faced a difficult prisoner. His name was Ikkyu. At least, that's what he insisted. Aotsuki knew Ikkyū well, however, and this aging, bald monk was not the same person. This, too, was a ruse; a decoy sent to throw himself upon Aotsuki's mercy. It seemed too obvious, though. Was this man really meant to take the fall for true Ikkyū's crimes, or was he merely a distraction...?   Regardless, Aotsuki was now faced with what to do with the imposter. It was not difficult to believe that he had some knowledge of the true Ikkyū's whereabouts. Such information would be very valuable to Aotsuki and his clan, who still sought justice for the notorious monk's odious actions. Kuroda Kanbei, one of the few present and a trusted ally, suggested that they kill him. As a necromancer, Kanbei would have an easier time obtaining the information posthumously.

That certainly might be easier, but Aotsuki wasn't about that life. Amaterasu taught compassion for all, and while he might have trouble stretching that to the real Ikkyū, this man at least would not suffer by his hand. Instead, the young lord called down another individual he'd met during his last run-in with the fugitive in question. Ushinaga Mimihime had been kept prisoner, her voice shackled by a cursed iron about her neck, and released only to entertain Ikkyū's guests with her song. The thought of how she'd been abused and used as little more than a social tool lit a rare flame of anger in Aotsuki's heart. Still, in comparison to Mori the Blind, Mimihime should harbor fewer feelings of loyalty toward their previous employer.   It was Kanbei who handled the actual summoning. In response to Aotsuki asking for a guard to escort Mimihime to the dungeons, it was instead Sugihara Hidemitsu who arrived prompt and breathless not long later. That was fine; Aotsuki knew from experience that Hidemitsu nearly worshiped him as an aspect of Amaterasu. The boy could be trusted. Mimihime was more of a mystery. As she arrived in Hidemitsu's wake, her expression turned to one of barely-filtered disgust upon seeing "Ikkyu" in the cell. In a flash of insight, Aotsuki caught the merest flicker of recognition in the captured monk's eyes as well. These two knew each other.   Regrettably, Mimihime was not able to provide many details. This was a man she'd seen meeting with Ikkyū on more than one occasion. Another servant, bound to the despicable priest by great debts. That seemed to be how Ikkyū operated, and the debts must be great indeed for Mori the Blind to have attempted to take his own life in repayment. Indeed, the imposter monk continued to insist that he was Ikkyu and ready to atone for his crimes, even in the light of this new accusation.   It was time, then, to turn to magic. Kuroda Kanbei's mastery of multiple schools came to their aid once again. By calling upon the powers of the earth, the warlock princess was able to reach into its long memory and tease out some knowledge of this imposter's past. When the vision was over, she could not report much. The man in the cell had indeed met with Ikkyū, and they discussed something of a major debt. Unfortunately, Kanbei's spell had not stretched back far enough to tell what, exactly, that debt might be. Still, it was enough for this monk, Tsurōbō as he was called, to agree to this ploy. It would be imprisonment, Ikkyū had assured him, nothing more. He did not believe that Aotsuki Tsukamoto would kill those in his grasp; a gallingly correct assessment.   Around the two speaking, Kanbei had seen a tent erected over soft, grassy earth. That itself was not helpful. Such a tent could be nearly anywhere. Still, Aotsuki was now armed with more knowledge than when he'd first arrived. He turned his attention again to Tsurōbō and began to wear down the man with words alone. First, he had Ushinaga Mimihime tell her story. This was not new to the imposter monk, he could tell, but a flicker of conscience in those sunken eyes was exactly what Aotsuki was looking for. Then, the young lord elaborated. He told of his own experience, how Mori the Blind had attempted to kill himself and frame Aotsuki for the death, and then of Ikkyū's failsafe that had nearly killed Five innocent Guys.   There was still a shred of humanity, of morality within Tsurōbō, and Aotsuki had grabbed hold of it. With a few more words, an appeal to the better nature of his prisoner, the young lord pulled. Finally, the imposter monk broke. He did not drop his character. Still, Tsurōbō claimed with utmost conviction that he was Ikkyū. He did, however, drop a small but extremely valuable piece of information into his speech. He, Ikkyū, had traveled all the way here from the Crescent Moon Collective in Kaga Province to throw himself on Aotsuki's mercy.   It was not an overwhelmingly subtle admission, but it did allow Aotsuki to learn Ikkyū's true location without presumably breaking whatever oath Tsurōbō had made. Then it was settled. At least, Aotsuki had a target. There were still problems to overcome, however. In his admission, Tsurōbō had mentioned something about worshipers of Inari no Okami. That was troubling, as servants of the Goddess of Freedom would no doubt object to Ikkyū being taken into the Aotsuki Clan's custody. What's more, their champion had already shown herself to be exceedingly problematic when Hashinara Yoshitakatomo had drawn Inari's ire in the past.   For now, Hayashi Hidesada agreed to scout the Collective and ensure that Ikkyū was even there. She could observe from the air, and worshipers of Inari were not likely to attempt to detain or question her regardless. What's more, there was supposedly a Yōkai-centric group of Ikkō Ikki camped nearby. Aotsuki recognized that Ikki. Indeed, he thought he'd had a staring match or two with one of its members. As a Tengu herself, Hidesada should be welcome among them and could use such a place as a base.   Aotsuki agreed. He cautioned Hidesada to be careful, but the earnest envoy of Oda was obviously eager to make up for her mistake in capturing this imposter. With her on that task, there only remained what, exactly, to do with this fake Ikkyū. After all, letting Tsurōbō go might send the wrong message if he continued the pretense, but at the same time, the man was largely innocent; it would not be right to keep him locked up merely because of his associations.