Walking through the, admittedly, modest and especially exotic garden that the embassy offered Junpei kept to himself hands reaching out ever so often to pull a bloom to his face. Enjoying the fragrance of the foreign flora, he eyed them with a certain enjoyment. Knowing that his death had not become nigh, afforded him a moment to reflect on his circumstance and take in the beauty of the island that, while still filled with gaijin, was somewhere he would most likely never be again.

Behind him, the step of his yojimbo brought him out of his reverie and back into the present. He'd been assigned to the Isawa as 'protection,' but, of course, the question remained protect who from who. Junpei recalled his yojimbo in Phoenix lands, and this man was nothing like him. Indeed, the whole venture of having a yojimbo only felt like a stigma. I wonder what they'll call me after this? How about traitor? Heretic? Blasphemer? Apostate?

Kaito stalked the gardens for perhaps the third time this morning in a attempt to ease the restlessness that plagued him. He had missed the opportunity to Volunteer to attack the enemy ship this morning and it irked him bashing a few heretic heads in would likely make him feel better about the poor crane.

Spotting a flash of orange in the gardens his eyes narrowed for a moment before he recognized the figure and approached bowing politely. Fulmar had been a somewhat rare site the past few days and he was curious as to how he was doing. "Morning Isawa-san."

The voice was familiar and Junpei turned surprised to finally have company, "Oh, ohayo Yoritomo-san."

In spite of his morose mood, he managed to put on airs of contentment, offering a friendly smile and a nod. "I wasn't expecting anyone to be here. How are you?"

It was obvious that the mantis's mood was would but he at least tried to be polite to his shipmate. "Ain't to bad Isawa-san, though I wish I had been able to get in on the raid tonight." He said trying not to grumble. "Guess ya can't have every experienced sailor risking life and limb though."

"Raid?" Junpei cocked his head. His own problems had made it all but impossible to focus on anything other than his seemingly inescapable execution. This business about the unknown ship with its pariah crew, possible cultists of....none of it was known to him. "What raid?"

"Captain was asked by the rulers here to raid one the the enemy ships that lies waiting in harbor." Kaito replied rather shocked the man hadn't heard about it. "He was looking for volunteers for the duty a bit earlier today."

Turning slowly to continue walking the garden, presumably with Kaito in tow, he raised a hand to another piece of the landscape feeling the odd plants waxy leaves, "I wonder why? That is, why we were asked, why we're willing, or why this enemy ship is in a hostile harbor in the first place."

Kaito shrugged slightly as he matched pace with the Isawa. "Can't say I know much of the why's Isawa-san, but I figure finding one of out own dead yesterday may have influenced the Captain's decision. As to why we were asked in the first place well I can speculate but that's about all."

"What?" Junpei stopped again and turned, "Dead? Who?"

He drew a hand to his lips to cover a paling in his cheeks. He'd seen many people yesterday and this morning, but hadn't noticed anyone gone or mourning.

Kaito hesitated for a moment wondering if he should tell the details then deciding he might as well everyone would likely know soon enough anyways. "Asahina Narumi-san," Came his simply reply a touch of anger making its way into hsi eyes at the still fresh memories came to mind.

"Oh Fortunes," Junpei bowed his head and gave a silent prayer to the woman's spirit, guiding it to the afterlife. "She was the one in their temple district? How absolutely horrific. Are we sure it was this group of unwanted?"

His hand slipped back to his lips, "This is just awful."

"She wasn't the one in the Temple District Isawa-san. She was the one they took inside their dark temple." The mantis corrected the Shujenga his voice laced with anger. "If one were to count the poor Heimen they butchered in the temple district that would be two Rokugani these people took."

"As to if this are the one that took them I do not know but they are connected it seems."

Junpei could barely fathom the situation, and was struck dumb for several long moments letting out little more than parts of words. Finally he got hold of his tongue, "This land is growing darker by the day, and I'm not just talking about the people. There is a spiritual miasma falling over all of it. Surely you've seen the fog everywhere. Evil is lurking in these lands and if we stay here any longer we will die. Nobody wishes to speak with me, so I haven't offered these thoughts to anyone else, but the air is still, like the kazekami are gone. Madness is gripping these people..."

Kaito nodded at the Isawa's words his face serious. "Hai I noticed the fog... it reminds me of the mist that we found in that temple... It clung to the ground and moved like something alive... it seemed to follow us out as we left." He repressed the urge to shudder. "If the walls keep out the evil outside the city coming towards it's the evil inside it comes from that temple. Damned if I know why the gaijin let a place of such evil stand I'd destroy it myself if I could."

"I understand the feeling, but much like us, they have seen the worship of their mad goddess as acceptable if not accepted for quite some time. I was able to speak with one of their priests, if you can call them that, who said that worship of 'she who destroys' was part of their lives, I can only assume in much the same way that we venerated Lord Moon or his successors. She has not become anathama until recently."

Kaito frowned slightly then shook his head. "Perhaps, you are right Isawa-san but I can't help but disagree. If you had seen that place and the remains of their victims lined up on the walls... You might share my opinion"

"Oh, I share your opinion already. Given the atrocities that occurred, anyone from the Empire would feel the same way, but, at the very least I can understand their hesitation. Imagine the wrath of this befouled goddess that is killing them, then think of her increased rage when one of her temples is destroyed. Right now they must think about effects these actions will have in a very real and immediate way. Those of the Empire would do what must be done, but they are gaijin, it is in their nature to lack our virtues."

"Perhaps so Isawa-san." Kaito replied his anger cooled to embers for the moment. "It is a fool indeed though that does not see what the enemy outside can do if you let a piece of him fester within. I had hoped these people were wise enough to realize that."

"Their wisdom and foolishness are sporadic at best. It seems there is no consistency between individuals whether one will be of sound mind and reason or not. No wonder we are so limited in our interaction with so mercurial and volatile a people."

"Think you have a point there Isawa-san." He replied with a small sigh. "Enough about such topics though. I haven't seen ya in the last couple days have ya been well?"