Aotsuki Solves Matters of Trade, Family

Financial Event

When the independent matches had finished and his own representatives cautioned about the bloody nature of the tournament, Aotsuki Tsukamoto and Tokku-hime retired to Ōtsu Castle for the remainder of the morning. The young lord wished to speak with two of his financial agents, Yokko and Momoyama Shunkei, and trusted his wife's legal counsel would be valuable as well. With a word to Abe no Seimei, the two were gathered in a second-floor meeting chamber and the meeting begun.

Recent changes in the economic climate had prompted Aotsuki to rethink his assignments in regards to trade. Shunkei was doing a fine job in Ōmi Province, but Saitō Dōsan of Mino Province had no such adviser, and profits were suffering for it. Due to a complicated history in which she may have been implicated as a thief, Yokko felt awkward about returning to Dōsan's side. Shunkei, however, had no such reservations. So long as his presence wouldn't be too missed in Ōtsu, he would be pleased to work his magic in Inabayama instead.   With many reassurances that her days of skullduggery were behind her, Yokko was granted the prestigious position of Trademaster of Ōmi, while Shunkei's assignment was transferred to Mino instead. Tokku asserted that Yokko had not actually committed any legal crime, so this seemed a favorable solution, and would surely greatly increase the income to the clan's coffers.   Before they left, however, Momoyama Shunkei had one other matter to raise. Though, the matter was not so much raised, as thrust upon Aotsuki by the intrusion of Hoshiro and Toshiro, Shunkei's "boys." The two surly, burly goons had been investigating a ruined temple elsewhere in the temple on the trademaster's behalf, and had brought back an item he was most interested in. They had also unwillingly brought back an Inugami by the name of Roxy.   That item, which Shunkei had already skillfully put away, was nearly all that Roxy had to remember her family by. She had met with many misfortunes in the recent past, and now, with the oafish, monkish brothers having taken a piece of what she had left, she was driven to the depths of despair. Tokku-hime hovered awkwardly, and the others tactfully made their exit while Aotsuki went into full Aotsuki Mode.   He did what he does best, and managed to console Roxy back to a reasonable state. While he couldn't restore her old family, he could offer her a new one at the castle. The White Frog's silver tongue worked its golden magic, and the girl was convinced. A watchdog at heart, she would guard the castle, while Aotsuki worked to restore the temple she called home, and perhaps a bit of the love she used to feel.   With this settled, Aotsuki and Tokku finally departed the meeting chambers, only to be met with a thunderous sonic boom from outside. Seimei assured him that it was only the arrival of Fubuki, and that they were not, in fact, under attack. Wondering why all these bizarre events had to happen at his castle, Aotsuki traveled a few rooms to the audience chamber, and walked in on Fubuki and Seimei opening an ancient cursed coffin.