I'm gonna Kill Him (Moon 15, Aftdeck, Afternoon, Open)

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi sits obediently, that same serene look on his face.

"It was this one's opinion that permitting the anger to fester was worse than a quick altercation. After the first shot I was in no danger...he moved a little faster than I expected."

[Isawa O-Washi]

This admission got Fuichi a dirty look. "I don't care if you're in danger or not...letting him attack you, encouraging him to continue to attack you, would likely force the Captain to kill him. As it is, one blow struck in anger against a samurai in this particular place may, may be excused with a beating."

His gaze slid to Rinzuki.

"What insult did he give you?"

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"I will not repeat it," Rinzuki says, not looking up her examination of Fuichi. "Suffice it to say, it was lewd and included both Shinjo-sama and myself."

She places her hands on the Crane's head and begins to tenderly search for soft spots. "It was two strikes, the second coming after Daidoji-sama had made it known that he had no intention of fighting back. If Shinjo-sama not intervened, I suspect that both of us would be in much worse shape." A pause. "I suspect that the only reason Daidoji-sama did not mention this is because of a concussion of some sort."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi submitted to the Iuchi's examination, but he was beginning to wonder if she was not just a little bloodthirsty.

"I did not mention it because it is immaterial. An act of pennance was required for the wrong I caused him. I would have preferred to render an apology, but this seemed better than a steady increase of ill-will, particularly given our situation."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Lewd?" Qulan was a bit confused, but let it go. What was so lewd about fishing and clams, after all?

[Isawa O-Washi]

O-washi gave Dageki a very aggrieved look. Peasant he might be but the Isawa had always liked him. This act of stupidity was likely to be his last and he was truly unhappy with that knowledge.

"Well, Iuchi-san, as you seem the only one who carries any sort of grievance for the slight, I ask you what you would prefer to see done?" He raised on big hand before she could start. "It is not necessarily what will happen, mind you. In the end it will be the Captain's choice."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi lingers a bit since he had been nearby watching for most of the incident and had been there for the incident that started this whole mess, but in the end decides he probably fits into the 'newcomers' and heads below deck.

/exit

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"There is a clear division between samurai and heimin, Isawa-sama." She takes a deep breath as she steps back from Fuichi and turns to face the gunso. "These are not merely mortal divisions, but those of the Heavens themselves. What happened today crossed the line of proper behavior to such an extent that, were it my choice, I would end the man's life."

She lowers her gaze to the floor. "It is the most compassionate punishment I can think of, Isawa-sama. I have no reason to believe that the heimin in question has seen the error of his ways, and such animosity will only lead to more bloodshed in the future. Furthermore, should he die in the fits of rage, his soul will be consigned to Toshigoku, a punishment far worse than anything we can imagine. I would allow him a few hours to come to peace with his decision, and then send him to his next life, sparing him an eternity of suffering."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi closed his eyes rather than show his own anger. The Iuchi's solution was unacceptable, but he was no longer in control of the situation. I wonder if she would treat a horse so callously?

[Rixy]

Rubbing his temples O-washi looked intently at the Iuchi.

"And if the loss of one of our finer warriors should we come under attack before port leads to the loss of samurai? What will you say then?"

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki regards O-Washi with raised eyebrows.

"We would lose even less samurai if we all learned maho and blasted our enemies from a distance with unholy fire. At what point do we stop being ruthlessly pragmatic and turn our gaze back to the rules laid out by our ancestors? I do not believe that we should set our Honor aside simply because we are on the ocean. On the mainland, it would not even be an issue of debate."

She pauses for a moment to take a deep breath.

"I have done as requested and told you what I would do, were it my choice, but I will abide by whatever decision the captain makes."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi's jaw dropped, unable to believe his ears. Absolutely horrified, he sputters. "The situations are not even remotely comparable!"

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Indeed they are not."

O-washi's gaze narrowed at the Unicorn.

"I would also remind you that you should not mention such matters while we are yet on the Sea. Very well, unless anyone has anything to add all of you are dismissed...except you, Dageki."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki bows and walks away, clearly displeased with her fellow shugenja.

/exit

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi rises, his eyes clouded with something between grief and rage, then he takes a breath and bows toward the gunso. When he rises, that serene expression has returned. "I will pray that the Captain exercises the mercy that the situation warrants." A second bow to the Shinjo and Dageki immediately precedes his
/exit.

[Shinjo Qulan]

"H-hai." Qulan bowed to her gunso. "I apologize that I was unable to stop him before the damage was done."

The Shinjo then also took her leave.

/exit

[Isawa O-Washi]

Sighing, the big man turned to Dageki, as much sorrow in his eyes as anger.

"I hope it was worth it, because you're a dead man as soon as you leave this ship if not sooner. There is no way that woman will let you live after insulting her."

[Volsung]

Dageki and Furaito had stood quietly as the Isawa had taken control of the situation. Once everyone was gone, Dageki looked up. There was fear in his eyes finally, as the entire situation began to sink in.

"I wasn't gonna hit none of 'em... Might've gotten a bit crude with the Shinjo. But she didn't even know who my sister was when she tried to wish her well. Then the Iuchi said somethin' and I got mad. An' then Furaito hit me. Then that fuckin' Daidoji stepped up to me like that and without a care asked if my sister was takin' her tea well. I just... I know I hit him. Kami, I shouldn' 've done that."

Dageki looked back down at the ground. "I know it ain't worth much, but I don't wanna die on the land. Lemme die defendin' the ship or at sea. An' take care o' Touhi."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"The lot of us are going to go tell the Captain just what happened and see what he wants to do." O-washi rubbed his temples again. " If it's to be an execution, I can use my position as priest to make sure that you don't die on this damned Sea, no one deserves this place to be their last sight. If it comes to it, I'll break your neck myself, if that's what you want, or open your leg like you do on the field if you can't save a man. Both are as quick as I could manage...I'd offer to take your head but I never learned to use a sword and I wouldn't trust any of the recruits not to botch it."

Sighing, he looked down on the man that was near to a friend as a heimen could be to a samurai.

"And I'll see that Touhi's kept busy enough not to fret overmuch, though that's going to be a small comfort. Once we hit port,if she wants it I'll see about a cushy position for her with my sister, who just got made a magistrate for my Clan...she'd treat her well and could use a well-trained doshin."

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

Spiteful whench, Kiyo bows to the Isawa and returns to her work. She hadn't seen the actual fight, only overheard the commotion from above so there was nothing she could do.

"He should have gotten himself some liquid courage first," she mutters as she leaves.

/exit