[Day 4, Mid-Afternoon, Baths] Sweet Merciful Kami!

[Isawa Junpei]

"Then a man who practices blood magic in ignorance has not committed blasphemy against the gods?"

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"Who can practice blood magic in ignorance? It requires the ritualistic letting of blood, something a person must learn either through reading highly dangerous material or by listening to the whispers of a kansen. The decision to use that which all are aware is wrong is necessarily blasphemy. The means of acquiring the knowledge should be testimony enough that it is foul and should not be used. That blood is such a taboo in our culture also points to the inherent wrongness of maho. Anyone familiar with our cultural norms would know instantly it is blasphemous."

He paused. "And those outside of it would learn when the darkness begins to spread."

[Isawa Junpei]

"But what if a gaijin practiced maho? Surely a gaijin cannot be said to necessarily know the evils of blood magic. Is his practice not blasphemy? The yobanjin enslave the kami to do their bidding, but they cannot hear their cries of agony. Is it not blasphemy simply because they do not know the consequences of their rites?"

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"It is wrong, yes, but it is not blasphemous. Ultimately, in that case, it is a semantics question as we would have to stop them anyway, but it is not technically blasphemy."

[Isawa Junpei]

"I'm afraid our definitions are quite different," Junpei's tone was nonplus. "As I was taught blasphemy is a cosmic sin, not one relegated to the vagaries of the mortal mind. That their worship or their sorcery offends the gods is all that need be done for one to commit the highest of sins. But that is the difference in our philosophies."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"I intend to see their temples tomorrow to reach an understanding. I'll decide then if they deserve to die or not."

[Isawa Junpei]

"You are a braver man than I." Junpei replied simply with a smirk, still relaxing.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"Or perhaps I am willing to see the good in most people. I'm told that even the Unicorn exhibit good features from time to time."

He's sort of kidding. Kind of.

[Isawa Junpei]

"When not attempting a coup d'etat," Junpei countered.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"Or murdering sisters." Fuichi said that so coldly that all humor was sucked from the room.

[Isawa Junpei]

Junpei offered nothing in reply. The Khan's siege of the capital was not his burden. For him it had been a distant affair with few, if any, of it's victims known to him. And so, he simply stayed reclined, soaking in the water, perhaps allowing the Crane to speak on it more if the spirit moved him to do so.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

What more needed to be said? Fuichi bowed his head from the shame of his outburst and began to rise. "I have overstayed my welcome, I fear. Any longer in the water and it will strike me with the Curse of Eternal Wrinkles."

[Isawa Junpei]

The tensai offered a laugh, "I suppose, I should be getting out as well. I'm sure I've soaked enough to get the feeling of dried salt off of me." Opening his eyes and standing he made his way to the opposite edge of the bath to retrieve his towel. Then, carefully stepping out, he stretched and then wrapped the towel about him.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Politely, Fuichi averted his eyes and attended to his own toweling. Not that he didn't want to sneak a peek, but manners are manners.

[Isawa Junpei]

"Come on, maybe we can sneak a cup of tea before we have to go off anywhere. I could certainly use one before my communion." Junpei smiled and headed into the embassy-proper.

/exit

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"Hai, that sounds lovely."

/And they're off...